The Russian State Duma, (Gosudarstvennaya Duma, lower house of the Federal Assembly) taking its cue from American liberals, has passed tough hate-crime legislation to crack down on “extremists.”
The Duma has approved up to three years imprisonment for “vandalism motivated by politics or ideology.” According to the story by Mr. Vladimir Isachenkov, published by AP, the legislation “could allow authorities to punish any participants in an opposition protest if violence erupted.”
Hmmmm. Sounds pretty familiar. According to 18 U.S.C. § §248(a), and 248(b) “Whoever – (1) by force or threat of force or by physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates, or interferes with, or attempts to. . .interfere with any person because that person is or has been, or in order to intimidate such person or any other person or any class of persons from, obtaining or providing reproductive health services;. . .shall. . .(1) in the case of a first offense, be fined in accordance with this title, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and (2) in the case of a second or subsequent offense. . .be fined in accordance with this title, or imprisoned not more than 3 years or both; . . .”
To be fair, the US statute goes on to reduce the penalty slightly for "nonviolent physical obstruction." Still, I wonder if the State Duma consulted the US Code looking for drafting advice ? “Progressives” usually think that international influences on the law are a good thing. Funny if it’s going the other way. Then again, maybe the chattering leftie types, who are running around raving about “extremists” all the time – will take a Russian cue and fix the abortion law to take in other “extremists.” Hands across the sea and all.
Anyway, good to know the Russians are following the trail blazed by our Liberal heroes.
The Duma has approved up to three years imprisonment for “vandalism motivated by politics or ideology.” According to the story by Mr. Vladimir Isachenkov, published by AP, the legislation “could allow authorities to punish any participants in an opposition protest if violence erupted.”
Hmmmm. Sounds pretty familiar. According to 18 U.S.C. § §248(a), and 248(b) “Whoever – (1) by force or threat of force or by physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates, or interferes with, or attempts to. . .interfere with any person because that person is or has been, or in order to intimidate such person or any other person or any class of persons from, obtaining or providing reproductive health services;. . .shall. . .(1) in the case of a first offense, be fined in accordance with this title, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and (2) in the case of a second or subsequent offense. . .be fined in accordance with this title, or imprisoned not more than 3 years or both; . . .”
To be fair, the US statute goes on to reduce the penalty slightly for "nonviolent physical obstruction." Still, I wonder if the State Duma consulted the US Code looking for drafting advice ? “Progressives” usually think that international influences on the law are a good thing. Funny if it’s going the other way. Then again, maybe the chattering leftie types, who are running around raving about “extremists” all the time – will take a Russian cue and fix the abortion law to take in other “extremists.” Hands across the sea and all.
Anyway, good to know the Russians are following the trail blazed by our Liberal heroes.
2 comments:
i know it is the translation.....
there is just something about the word Duma, that when i hear it.....ah, well.
i guess that would mean we have a House of Duma, as opposed to a Hous of Pelosi.
extremists, huh?
intimidation, huh?
the Russians are following the trail blazed by our Liberal heroes.
How, LL ? How with a straight face can you live with yourself by putting a blot on the noble escutcheon of the sainted Lavrenti Pavlovich, noblest Chekist of them all (may he burn and rot in Hell all at once, forever), by confabulating him with mere liberal heroes, even though some do try, manfully, to steer the true Leninist (or maybe Stalinist in this case) course.
I like the term "Duma." "State Duma" was the name of poor old Nicholas II's lower house. Saying "Duma" is yet another way of pinching myself and reminding me that the evil, satanic, devil murdering scumbag Leninists and Stalinists lost and that Putin and successors are just garden-variety Russian authoritarians.
Post a Comment