Democrats Kill Legislation that Would Protect “John Does”
OK, here’s the recap:
Back in March, we blogged about legislation that was introduced to help protect people, who in good faith, reported suspicious activity. This legislation was brought about by a lawsuit against the “John Does” who tipped off airline officials about the “six flying imams”, who were removed from a flight after displaying suspicious activity.
The sole purpose of this lawsuit is to intimidate future “John Does” from reporting suspicious activity, thus making it easier for terrorist to carry out terrorist acts.
This legislation would have prevented lawsuits against people, who in good faith, reported something suspicious.
Now, thanks to your Democrats, the legislation is now dead.
Did you get that? The very people you put in control of congress, are not interested in protecting you from being sued for doing your civic duty and reporting suspicious activity. (Sarcasm on) Good Job!! (Sarcasm off)
Michelle Malkin has more:
Andy McCarthy and Audrey Hudson report that Democrats are attempting to water down the “John Doe” amendment–the legislation sponsored by Rep. Peter King that would protect citizen whistleblowers who act to protect our national security and who are threatened by lawsuits from CAIR and their grievance-mongering ilk. Time is short. You need to make your voice heard in Congress now.
Hudson writes:
Democrats are trying to pull a provision from a homeland security bill that will protect the public from being sued for reporting suspicious behavior that may lead to a terrorist attack, according to House Republican leadership aides. The legislation, which moves to a House and Senate conference committee this afternoon, will implement final recommendations from the 911 Commission.Rep. Pete King, New York Republican and ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Steve Pearce, New Mexico Republican, sponsored the bill after a group of Muslim imams filed a lawsuit against U.S. Airways and unknown or “John Doe” passengers after they were removed for suspicious behavior aboard Flight 300 from Minneapolis to Phoenix on Nov. 20 before their removal.“Democrats are trying to find any technical excuse to keep immunity out of the language of the bill to protect citizens, who in good faith, report suspicious activity to police or law enforcement,” Mr. King said in an interview last night.“This is a slap in the face of good citizens who do their patriotic duty and come forward, and it caves in to radical Islamists,” Mr. King said.
“I don’t see how you can have a homeland security bill without protecting people who come forward to report suspicious activity,” Mr. King said.
6:58 pm Eastern update and bumped. Audrey Hudson reports the Dems have successfully stripped out the John Doe amendment:
Congressional Democrats today failed to include a provision in homeland security legislation that would protect the public from being sued for reporting suspicious behavior that may lead to a terrorist attack, according to House Republican leaders. “This is a slap in the face of good citizens who do their patriotic duty and come forward, and it caves in to radical Islamists,” said Rep. Peter T. King, New York Republican and ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee.
Who is responsible? Bryan Preston observes:
[The Dems] scuttled this amendment in committee in a way that makes them difficult to track down individually. That’s sneaky but it’s how Washington often works. Rep. Bennie Thompson is the most likely culprit, but it’s unlikely that he’s flying solo here.
The fight’s not over, as Audrey Hudson notes:
While the conference is not likely to meet again, Mr. King noted the conference report has not been written and says he will continue discussions with Sen. Joe Lieberman, Connecticut independent and chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, to insert the “John Doe” language. Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Republican and ranking member of the committee, announced afterward she will attempt to attach a similar bill to an education measure currently under debate on the Senate floor.
Keep calling Nancy Pelosi’s office to protest.
And start hounding your Senators.
Congress switchboard: 202-224-3121
Nancy Pelosi’s office: 202-225-4965Who is John Doe? I am John Doe. You are John Doe:
