Eco-Terroism

They handed down a sentence for Daniel McGowan today. Seven years for arson and criminal conspiracy. You may remember McGowan from the news stories about him (and others) torching some government and private buildings in Oregon. Apparently they did it in the name of the Earth Liberation Front and the Animal Liberation Front. They had their reasons but I don't really care to list them all here.

Anyway... The big deal on this one was that the government wanted to add a "terrorism" enhancement to McGowan's sentence. McGowan's supporters are all bent out of shape because they feel the terrorism label is inappropriate. On McGowan's website they use labels like "environmentally motivated property damage," "eco-saboteurs," and "environmental activists."

I have to admit, this kind of pisses me off. Apparently they feel "terrorism" is in the eye of the beholder. As long as you agree with the cause, it's not terrorism. Or in their case... It's not terrorism unless somebody gets killed.

Sorry kids... Terrorism isn't about what you did so much as why you did it. Let's take a look at the law... 18 U.S.C. § 2331(1) defines “international terrorism” as activities that:

(A) involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or of any State;

(B) appear to be intended-

(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;

(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or... (there's more but it doesn't really relate to this).

So... It seems as though the government has taken a cause-neutral stance on terrorism. It seems a rather common sense idea. If you were attempting to get citizens or the government to do what you want by committing violent acts against them, it's terrorism.

Now somebody explain to me why McGowan's acts weren't terrorism.

After they torched things they issued statements including language like,

"As long as companies continue to operate and profit off of Mother Earth and Her sentient animal beings, the Animal Liberation Front will continue to target these operations and their insurance companies until they are all out of business."

or

"This action is payback and it is a warning, to all other responsible we do not sleep and we won't quit.”

Seems pretty simple to me... They were burning stuff up (IMHO a "violent act") and then after they did it they sent messages telling people to change what they were doing or face more of the same. If that isn't terrorism... What is?

Sorry kid... Just because you're an educated white guy working for a popular cause doesn't make it ok. Go to jail just like everybody else.