The Definition of Domestic Terrorism Is Too Broad

"Well, you might be suspicious and a domestic terrorist if you purchase meals ready to eat, weatherproofed ammunition or match containers, night vision devices, night flashlights or gas masks."

Ms. Smith is a writer, a web developer, a programmer, and an expert on Internet privacy and security issues. In the following viewpoint, she warns that the US government has gone too far in its efforts to define and recognize domestic terrorists. As an example, Smith points to a 2011 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) memo that offered tips to identify potential domestic terrorists that was handed out to military surplus stores, hotels and motels, gun shops, and farm supply companies all over the United States. According to Smith, the FBI's domestic terrorist indicators are so extensive that many innocent people could be classified as terrorists. As it stands, contends Smith, the FBI's memo is so wide-ranging that it should be regarded as useless in the fight against domestic terrorism and a threat to American civil liberties.

You might be a domestic terrorist if you pay cash or if you "insist" on privacy when, for no reason, you are asked to show your identification. Sadly this is part two and not a You-Might-Be-a-Redneck-If-type joke as there is more proof that you might be a domestic terrorist if you actually believe your constitutional rights, or if you express concerns about Big Brother, or even if you have ever discussed the apocalypse online and your "radical" Christian beliefs. When it comes to disasters, if your plan is to "be prepared" like the Boy Scout motto, then guess what? Be prepared to be suspicious and end up on a watch list as a domestic terrorist. Prepared Girl Scouts are not safe either.

Oath Keepers [a group of former military and law enforcement personnel] posted a "communities againstterrorism" brochure that the Colorado FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation] handed out as a potential indicator of terrorist activities to military surplus stores. The alarming list suggests that suspicious activities include insisting to pay with cash or if the "suspect" demands "identity privacy." If you went into a military surplus store previously, don't alter your appearance such as by shaving, changing your hair color, or your style of dressing because that too may make you a domestic terrorist. Don't go buying items there as an intended gift because possessing "little knowledge of intended purchase items" makes you a potential extremist to be reported. Better shower well or use cologne/perfume because if you smell strange? You guessed it, you potential terrorist you.

That's not nearly all the "suspicious activity" that might get you labeled as a domestic terrorist. What if you are trying to follow disaster preparedness guidelines as suggested by other government agencies like DHS [Department of Homeland Security] or the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]? Not too long ago, the CDC compiled a "Zombie Apocalypse" disaster preparedness list that was such a viral social media hit that it crashed the servers. Well, you might be suspicious and a domestic terrorist if you purchase meals ready to eat, weatherproofed ammunition or match containers, night vision devices, night flashlights or gas masks. Examinerjournalist Kurt Hofmann pointed out that purchasing such items makes you a "suspected terrorist" but not purchasing the CDC's survival preparedness items means you will be devoured by zombies? Hofmann also says that ironically Homeland Security suggests that citizens have disaster preparedness supplies on hand.

Problematic Domestic Terrorism Strategies

It began when the White House announced a community-based approach to fight domestic terrorism and published "Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States." The strategy is to strengthen cooperation between law enforcement, communities and the federal government. Among other things, it will help "communities to better understand and protect themselves against violent extremist propaganda,especially online." No big deal, you aren't an extremist? In what seems almost to be talk out of both sides of the same mouth, the document states, "Though we will not tolerate illegal activities, opposition to government policy is neither illegal nor unpatriotic and does not make someone a violent extremist." That is, it's not yet officially rubber-stamped to get your name on a watch list. While it recommends peaceful means, and I'm all for peace, we've seen how officially or not, members of peace groups have ended up on watch lists like they might be terrorist scum because domestic spying is nearly at Cold War levels!

Another White House proposed community-based strategy is a comprehensive gang model, but law enforcement has long been hunting for gangs and terrorists who utilize Xbox and PS3 [PlayStation 3] and warned the gaming realm like World of Warcraft is allegedly used to recruit and to plan chaos. Also, now the NYPD [New York City Police Department] has formed a new social media unit to data-mine Facebook and Twitter for mayhem.

"Under the logic of this most recent handout, the Boy Scouts should be reported as 'suspicious,'" wrote Oath Keepers. "Funny thing is, who exactly do the authors of these handouts think they are talking to when they ask gun store and military surplus store owners and staff to spy on their customers and serve as a network of government snitches?"

A Useless List

The flyers have also been handed out in Wyoming and similar brochures were passed out in gun stores from Utah to Connecticut. Authorities in Denver confirmed the suspicious activities document is "going to surplus stores, hotels and motels, farm supply companies that handle fertilizer and gun shops," Oath Keepers reported. "The answer to the government's silly lists is to make the lists so damn long they end up including every able-bodied American (who is supposed to be the militia anyway), and thus the damnable lists become useless."

According to WND [World Net Daily], a DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis included "right-wing extremism" in the U.S. as "divided into those groups, movements and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups) and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration."

A Danger to Civil Liberties

You might be a domestic terrorist if you are a supporter of Ron Paul for president. Missouri law enforcement has been encouraged to report such suspicious behavior as having a bumper sticker that supports Ron Paul. A Missouri Information Analysis Center report also "warned law enforcement to watch out for individuals with 'radical' ideologies based on Christian views, such as opposing illegal immigration, abortion and federal taxes."

God help you if you are a hacker, in the sense of modding [modifying] whatever it is you plan to buy, cause that too is suspicious, you potential terrorist you. Although I'm joking so that I don't cry, I'm angry about all these &$#%*! ridiculous lists of what I consider innocent behavior being treated like it allegedly equals suspicious behavior. Guard your privacy and you are suspicious enough to be reported as a potential domestic terrorist? Why should a person be required to show identification if what they are purchasing is with cash and does not require ID? Homeland Security already has massive databases of secret watch lists! I'm a bit afraid to ask what's next. That online articles disagreeing with such asinine lists could be construed as civil unrest needing to be squashed?