The Alabama House approved legislation carried by State Representative James Lomax, R-Huntsville, on Thursday that increases penalties for making terrorist threats, such as threatening school shootings, and requires principals to immediately suspend students charged with such crimes for one year. It now proceeds to the State Senate for consideration.
The bill was sponsored last year and pre-filed in the House this year by then-Representative Matt Woods, R-Anniston, who has since been elected to the State Senate, so Lomax agreed to continue the effort and carry the measure.
“Protecting our schools and giving students, educators, and administrators a safe environment to teach and learn ranks among our highest responsibilities as legislators,” Lomax said. “Parents, too, need to know that their children are shielded and safe from harm and threats while at school, and this legislation provides an added and necessary layer of security.”
Woods said passing and enacting the bill is increasingly important in today’s culture and the often turbulent times in which we live.
“Incidents like the killing of Charlie Kirk, the attempt on President Trump, and other events are becoming increasingly common, and students are exposed to violent acts on a more frequent basis, so it is important that we discourage them from even threatening copy cat actions,” Woods said. “The safety of our children whether at school or elsewhere is paramount, and if this legislation prevents or discourages even one violent act from taking place, it will have done its job.”
Under current law, making a terrorist threat in the first degree is punishable by a Class C felony, and a Class A misdemeanor in the second degree. The provisions of House Bill 7 increase the penalty for first degree terrorist threats to a Class B felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a $30,000 fine, and upcharges second degree terrorist threats to a Class D felony if previous offenses have occurred.
The bill also defines “credible threat” as “A knowing and willful statement or course of conduct, which, based on the totality of the circumstances, would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety or the safety of another.”
