Bill > SR40

Introduced Session

This Assembly resolution urges the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to classify as domestic terrorism those crimes committed by members of white supremacy and white nationalist groups in the United States. Prioritizing domestic terrorism cases will result in the allocation of more resources to the investigation and prosecution of these heinous crimes. White extremists have been killing citizens in this country in an array of public places at an increasingly alarming rate. Since 9/11, almost three times as many terrorist attacks in the United States have been by white supremacists and other far-right extremists than by Islamic terrorists. There is no federal crime of domestic terrorism with which these perpetrators specifically can be charged. The FBI defines domestic terrorism as the unlawful use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the United States or Puerto Rico without foreign direction committed against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof in furtherance of political or social objectives. Despite the rise in violence attributed to white supremacist and nationalist groups, the FBI often classifies these acts as hate crimes or gang-related crimes, rather than domestic terrorism. The FBI accords domestic terrorism cases higher priority than hate and gang crimes, which results in more resources, including the assignment of counterterrorism agents, being dedicated to fight domestic terrorism. When deadly hate crimes are not classified as terrorism, the crimes often are investigated and prosecuted by State and local law enforcement agencies who are less equipped and have fewer resources with which to respond. Because white supremacists and white nationalists have become the face of terrorism in the United States, the crimes they commit should be considered domestic terrorism by the FBI.

Committee Categories

Britnee Timberlake (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document