Last year, I introduced a bill to criminalize domestic terrorism.

House Bill 1164 would make it a separate offense to commit a crime with the intent to cause serious physical injury or death to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion.

There would be an enhanced penalty for these acts, like a hate crime.

The bill did not pass.

However, I worked with the committee chairman, Delegate Luke Clippinger, on a letter to the Director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security.

The letter asks for a “report on the State’s efforts and plans to prevent, detect, and address domestic terrorism, to the extent that the publication of such information does not jeopardize public safety or security.”

The letter was sent on May 11.  There has been no response.

Last week, as you know, the F.B.I. and state authorities arrested 13 men in connection with a domestic terrorism plot to kidnap the governor of Michigan.

I already planned to reintroduce my bill.