Pacific Views

If you don't think the Patriot Act is tough enough.

Maybe your state should enact its own anti-terror law?

That appears to be the thinking of Rhode Island governor Don Carcieri, who's trying to push a 'homeland security' law through Rhode Island's legislature.

[The] new homeland security bill would create new felony charges, require annual safety audits of every public school and close some public records, including those that show whether businesses comply with state Fire Safety Code requirements.

The bill, which Carcieri introduced last week, also would resurrect World War I-era laws that made it illegal to “speak, utter, or print” statements in support of anarchy; speak in favor of overthrowing the government; or to display “any flag or emblem other than the flag of the United States” as symbolic of the U.S. government.

We noticed that the bill would also make it a crime to teach or advocate anarchy.

Carcieri's bill is meeting significant opposition. The director of Rhode Island's branch of the ACLU says that the bill is 'a return to McCarthyism, when people had to be careful what they said or what organization they belonged to.' His organization has just issued a report outlining the ACLU's objections to the bill. (You can download a PDF copy of the report here.)

Via First Amendment Center.