A New York state senator wants to expose the terrorist next door.
Newly elected Republican Thomas Croci this week proposed legislation that would compel convicted terrorists to register with the state, as sex offenders must do.
The bill would create a “New York State Terrorist Registry”, in order to track residents who have been convicted of terrorism-related crimes or committed a “verifiable act” of terrorism.
“It will discourage terrorists worldwide from entering New York [and] require those already in New York to register and be monitored,” Croci told the New York Daily News.
“Most importantly, it will provide our law enforcement with an important new tool, to immediately arrest a terrorist who has not registered and submitted to monitoring once their presence in New York state is discovered.”
Croci’s registry is modelled after the sex-offender system that allows officials and the public to track where sex offenders live. Under the bill, those whose actions warranted a spot on the registry would be required to report their addresses and submit DNA samples and annual photographs. A “terrorist” who failed to register could face a felony charge.
The Daily News reported that the bill drew a few chuckles from Democrats.
“Wouldn’t those people already be in jail or out of the country?” the paper cited one anonymous Democratic lawmaker as saying while holding back laughter. “It seems like a blatant attempt to get cheap press on something that is being handled by more serious people.”
Judging by his interview with the Daily News, however, Croci is taking the matter quite seriously, and believes such a registry will help keep residents safe.
“This legislation will send a clear message to all terrorists: stay out of New York,” he said.
