Briefly in the news

In response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Surf City Assemblyman

Tom Harman, along with other California Republicans, are backing several

new anti-terrorism bills that will be introduced to the state legislature

when it reconvenes next month.

Harman calls it a “Republican-backed package” of 15 bills that call

for increasing criminal penalties for terrorism acts, such as placement

of biological agents, toxins, or destructive devices on or near bridges,

tunnels or roads, and would allow law enforcement to use wiretaps to

investigate terrorist activity. Another bill would add terrorism to the

list of crimes for which the death penalty may be pursued.

The bills will go before the state legislature when it reconvenes Jan.

7.

“It’s an aggressive, active position to enhance and improve [state]

laws to combat miscellaneous acts of terror,” Harman said.