"Federal authorities charged Tsarnaev with using a weapon of mass destruction"

[ProSense]

<...>

UPDATE

Federal authorities charged Tsarnaev with using a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of property resulting in death. Read the complaint here.

http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/04/22/1903011/tsarnaev-enemy-combatant/

Complaint: http://legaltimes.typepad.com/files/marathon-complaint.pdf

On a separate point, the suspects were not "brown." They were white.


http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/fbi-releases-new-photo-of-remaining-bombing-suspect

Two other American terrorists (acts within the U.S.)

Eric Rudolph
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Rudolph

Timothy McVeigh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh

[krispos42]

1. Well, under that definition Bush indeed found them in Iraq

: eyes:

words have meaning. A pair of pipe bombs are not WMDs.

What, 3 counts of murder, terrorism charges, and 183 counts of attempted murder are not enough?

[sarisataka]

2. Under US law

it seems you are correct:

(c) Definitions.— For purposes of this section—
(1) the term “national of the United States” has the meaning given in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 (a)(22));
(2) the term “weapon of mass destruction” means—
(A) any destructive device as defined in section 921 of this title;
(B) any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors;
(C) any weapon involving a biological agent, toxin, or vector (as those terms are defined in section 178 of this title); or
(D) any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life; and
(3) the term “property” includes all real and personal property.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2332a

4(A) any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas—
(i) bomb,
(ii) grenade,
(iii) rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces,
(iv) missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce,
(v) mine, or
(vi) device similar to any of the devices described in the preceding clauses;
(B) any type of weapon (other than a shotgun or a shotgun shell which the Attorney General finds is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes) by whatever name known which will, or which may be readily converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other propellant, and which has any barrel with a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter; and
(C) any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into any destructive device described in subparagraph (A) or (B) and from which a destructive device may be readily assembled.
The term “destructive device” shall not include any device which is neither designed nor redesigned for use as a weapon; any device, although originally designed for use as a weapon, which is redesigned for use as a signaling, pyrotechnic, line throwing, safety, or similar device; surplus ordnance sold, loaned, or given by the Secretary of the Army pursuant to the provisions of section 4684 (2), 4685, or 4686 of title 10; or any other device which the Attorney General finds is not likely to be used as a weapon, is an antique, or is a rifle which the owner intends to use solely for sporting, recreational or cultural purposes.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/921
Very broad definitions

[krispos42]

7. Well, shit.

I did not know that.

So I guess if I were to take a double-barreled shotgun, crimp the barrels and weld them closed, then loaded up some high-powered shotshells into it... I'd have a WMD. Because if I pulled the triggers, it would be a bomb going off.

*scratches head*


Unbelievable.




Thank you for the info.

[onenote]

4. Timothy McVeigh was charged with, convicted of, and executed for use of a weapon of mass destruction

In legal circles, words have the meaning that they're given. 18 US Code has since at least 1994 made it a crime to use a "weapon of mass destruction" to cause injury to person or property in the US. A weapon of mass destruction is defined as including a "desctructive device" falling within the following definition:

(A)any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas—
(i)bomb,
(ii)grenade,
(iii)rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces,
(iv)missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce,
(v)mine, or
(vi)device similar to any of the devices described in the preceding clauses....

These particular charges, it should be noted, are being brought under federal law, not state law. That's why there is no charge of "murder," which is a state crime.

[ProSense]

5. It's hard to imagine

why people are surprised that this is considered an act of terror.

[JaneyVee]

3. Terrible news for rightwingers, Obama got Bin Laden, Tsarnaev bros., AND found the WMDs.

[ProSense]

6. They don't care, they ignore facts. n/t