House Backs Bill to Use Testimonials to Combat Terrorism

A bill was passed last Tuesday where the Department of Homeland Security is required to use testimonials from former extremists and other social media messages to verse what is labelled as a "Hollywood-style propaganda" used by the Islamic State, as well as other militant groups for the recruitment of new members.

As per WTOC, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., the bill's chief sponsor, stated that it would be beneficial to prevent attacks like a certain shooting at a Chattanooga reserve center last year which took the lives of four Marines and a sailor. The killer was said to have been inspired by foreign terrorists, the FBI claims. The bill was officially approved, 322-79 and is now going to the Senate.

According to Fox News, Fleischmann noted that there are estimates that summed up to more than 200 Americans have tried to travel and fight with the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. He was quoted, "Foreign terrorists are using technology to radicalize Americans at a troubling pace that continues to increase. ISIS is luring Americans with empty and false promises that do not reflect reality on the ground in Iraq."

Townhall noted that all 79 votes that opposed the bill were from Democrats, comprised of some who said it was wrong to omit white supremacists, militias and other groups that killed a notable number of Americans more than that of foreign terrorists in recent years. It was spoken of by Senior Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson that the said bill may have ignored the fact that domestic terror groups, similar to foreign terrorist factions, kill Americans and are a threat to the homeland.

He further added that countering violent extremism should be the top priority and that there is a duty to ensure that the efforts to stop the aforementioned extremism should be focused on all terrorist threats, whether foreign or domestic. Other sides of the parties also talk of their ends regarding the bill, such as Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Rep. Peter DeFazio and Rep. Michael McCaul; naturally speaking of the other situations such as the prevention of attacks, national threats and most importantly, the firmness to stand for the security of the nation.

Tags

Department of Homeland Security, Counter-terrorism, Testimonial Bills

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