Radical Tucson environmentalist gets 1 year, 1 day for speech

[Mugu]

By ALLISON HOFFMAN, Associated Press Writer

A radical environmentalist was sentenced Thursday to one year and one day in federal prison for speaking publicly about how to make a homemade Molotov cocktail.

Rodney Coronado apologized for his past use of violent tactics in the name of animal rights and the environment, and said he had cut his ties to groups, including the Earth Liberation Front.

"I have done things in my past that I now regret," Coronado told U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey Miller. He said he wanted to serve his sentence and then get on with his life in Tucson, Ariz.

The 41-year-old activist pleaded guilty in December to distributing information on destructive devices during an August 2003 speech about militant environmental activism at a community center in San Diego.


Complete article at:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/03/27/state/n125633D77.DTL

[Xithras]

1. How can that possibly be legal?

Even under BusHitler, that's clearly first amendment territory. Heck, I can even drive down to the local military surplus store and pick up books on nonconventional urban combat that explain everything from wiring detonantion caps to picking good sniper positions. How can that be any more legal than what this guy did?

[Matariki]

4. Don't know, but is it possible the charge was 'inciting a criminal act'?

That would be illegal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incitement

[Xithras]

5. Nope, I found the law. It's how he presented it.

""(A) to teach or demonstrate the making or use of an explosive, a destructive device, or a weapon of mass destruction, or to distribute by any means information pertaining to, in whole or in part, the manufacture or use of an explosive, destructive device, or weapon of mass destruction, with the intention that the teaching, demonstration, or information be used for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a Federal criminal offense or a State or local criminal offense affecting interstate commerce; or

"(B) to teach or demonstrate to any person the making or use of an explosive, a destructive device, or a weapon of mass destruction, or to distribute to any person, by any means, information pertaining to, in whole or in part, the manufacture or use of an explosive, destructive device, or weapon of mass destruction, knowing that such person intends to use the teaching, demonstration, or information for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a Federal criminal offense or a State or local criminal offense affecting interstate commerce.".

The important clause in these two rules is the "with the intention that the teaching, demonstration, or information be used for, or in furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a Federal criminal offense". He was teaching a bunch of radicals how to make molotovs with the understanding that they'd use the knowledge to commit crimes. It's the intent behind the behavior.

This law, by the way, was enacted in 1997 and was written by DIANNE FEINSTEIN (DINO).

[Matariki]

6. Interesting. Was wondering if that law pertained to books like The Anarchist's Cookbook

looked it up on Amazon - and there it is. Along with a rather interesting disclaimer from the author...\

http://www.amazon.com/Anarchist-Cookbook-William-Powell/dp/0974458902/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206662313&sr=1-1

[Xithras]

7. The law is entirely based on intent.

If you're selling it at a bookstore, it's legal. If you're handing it out at an anarchist convention and shouting "GET YOUR FREE INSTRUCTIONS FOR BLOWING UP GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS HERE", you're going to jail.

In other words, youu've pretty much gotta be a raging moron to get charged under this law.

[Arctic Dave]

2. Molotov Cocktails? Really?

I thought any kid that has watched TV, before they were ten, knew how to make MC's

[ET Awful]

3. Maybe I'm blind, but I didn't see the actual crime he was charged with mentioned anywhere

in the article?

What was the actual crime?