Sen. Martha McSally wants to make domestic terrorism a punishable crime in the wake of two mass shootings potentially tied to ideologically motivated violence in California and Texas.
McSally, R-Ariz., intends to introduce legislation when the Senate returns from the summer recess to create a law in the federal criminal code to address domestic terrorism.
Federal authorities use other laws, such as weapons offenses and hate crimes, to charge such acts.
McSally said in a written statement to The Arizona Republic that it is important to call domestic terrorism by its name — and to create laws to address it as such.
Her legislation, which is still being drafted, would characterize violent acts as domestic terrorism, would seek to combat domestic terrorism and would aim to make sure victims of domestic terrorism are properly recognized.
“As someone who fought terrorism overseas, I understand the importance of calling out terrorism wherever it is,” McSally said in her statement. “Domestic terrorism is in our backyard and we need to call it and treat it under the law the same as other forms of terrorism.
“For too long, we have allowed those who commit heinous acts of domestic terrorism to be charged with related crimes that don’t portray the full scope of their hateful actions.”
