A closer look at Ohio's ecoterrorism bill

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Tue, Mar. 29, 2005

A closer look at Ohio's ecoterrorism bill
Associated Press

Ohio's proposed domestic terrorism bill would create the new offense of "animal or ecological terrorism" as one that can be prosecuted as a "pattern of corrupt activity," or racketeering, after two or more incidents.

_WHAT IS IT? The bill defines the offense as "the commission of any felony that involves causing or creating a substantial risk of physical harm to any property of another, the use of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance, or purposely, knowingly, or recklessly causing serious physical harm to property and that involves an intent to obstruct, impede, or deter any person from participating in a lawful animal activity, from mining, foresting, harvesting, gathering, or processing natural resources, or from being lawfully present in or on an animal facility or research facility."

The bill, and existing law, defines phrases such as "animal facility." For example, "serious physical harm to property" would include temporarily denying enjoyment of the property, which is why animal rights activists think it might be used to stop demonstrations.

_WHAT WOULD IT DO? Under Ohio law, courts can seize property acquired through racketeering, victims can sue to recover triple the amount of damages even if there is not a criminal conviction, and prosecutors who fail to convict a person accused of racketeering may sue for up to $100,000. The standard of proof is less in a civil trial than a criminal one.
(snip/...)

http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/state/11260182.htm
(Free registration is required)

[doubleplusgood]

1. vandalism, NOT terrorism

When will they go after agro-terrorists who threaten environmental activists with violence ? Or religio-terrorists who impede access to women's health clinics ?

[MisterP]

3. this is the same system that took an activist that was almost killed in

a bombing and prosecuted HER for it!

[Snivi Yllom]

4. well it's awfully good incentive not to fuck with other people's property

regardless of whether its vandalism or ecoterrorism

[punpirate]

2. Hmmm...

... sounds as if the corporations running factory farms are getting more than a bit annoyed....

[GoddessOfGuinness]

5. Gee...I always thought ecoterrorism was defined as

acts of terror directed at the environment...Like slash and burn clearing, strip mining, and poaching.

[OzarkDem]

6. Is this really a problem?

In a state that accounts for the majority of all the US jobs lost during the last few years, is this really an issue of burning importance?

Idiot right wing buffoons.