Raggio introduces anti-terrorism crime bill

Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, opened the 2003 Legislature by introducing a bill designed to criminalize terrorist activities in Nevada.

"I requested it at the time that everything happened a year ago," he said. "I wanted to make sure our laws covered any acts of terrorism."

SB38 was referred to the Judiciary Committee for study. It creates an additional penalty for crimes such as murder, arson and other acts when they are committed as acts of terrorism.

For acts of violence that result in death or substantial bodily harm, SB38 would authorize punishment of up to life in prison on top of any sentence the criminal received for the primary felony.

It defines acts of terrorism to include any act "that involves the use or the threatened or attempted use of sabotage, fear or violence" which is intended to intimidate or coerce the population, disrupt a governmental entity, retaliate or cause widespread panic or unrest, disrupt public infrastructure or damage the environment for terrorist purposes. The legislation covers a wide variety of methods of sabotage including disruption of communications, damage to the food supply, transportation and other systems, use of chemical or radioactive agents and any use of weapons of mass destruction.

Raggio said existing Nevada law doesn't specifically deal with the dangers of terrorism.