Chuck Schumer: “Today Senator DeWine and I are introducing a bill that will address what has sadly become a very serious problem. Since…”

“Today Senator DeWine and I are introducing a bill that will address what has sadly become a very serious problem. Since September 11, the number of terrorist hoaxes has increased dramatically. The bill that we introduce today would fill a gap in the law by explicitly making the commission of a terrorist hoax illegal and punishable by up to five years in jail. The last seven weeks have been difficult for all Americans. By nature, we Americans are tough. But many of us, myself included, are also a little more anxious than usual. That is understandable. But what is not understandable, in fact what is barely conceivable, is that some people think it is funny to take advantage of that fear. Each terrorist hoax means a waste of valuable law enforcement time and scarce resources. Our police officers and the FBI are already working around the clock to catch and arrest everyone involved in the September 11 attack, to find the perpetrators of the anthrax attacks, and to prevent future attacks from taking place. Wasting law enforcement's time and resources by committing terrorist hoaxes takes away from their ability to protect us. So in many ways, committing a terrorist hoax is an extension of terrorism itself. Beyond that, each terrorist hoax mocks the loss of thousands of lives in the September 11 attack and the recent deaths from anthrax.”