Washington:
Contending that alert citizens are the "first line of defence" against Mumbai-like terror attacks, two powerful US Senators have introduced a bill aimed at protecting individuals who provide information of suspected terrorist activity from frivolous lawsuits.
The "See Something, Say Something" bill, to provide immunity for reports of suspected terrorist activity or suspicious behaviour, has been introduced in the US Senate by Senators Susan Collins and Joe Lieberman.
While Lieberman is the Chairman of Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Collins is its Ranking Member. The committee has held two hearings on the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
"The terrorist attacks in Mumbai are a sobering reminder that terrorists continue to threaten our nation and civilised people throughout the world. An alert citizenry is our first line of defence against terrorist attacks, particularly like those in Mumbai," Collins said introducing the bill in Senate.
Asserting that US laws must protect individuals from frivolous lawsuits when they report, in good faith, suspicious behaviour that may indicate terrorist activity, Collins said the new legislation would expand protections in the existing laws to reports of suspicious behaviour in sectors other than transportation.
The "See Something, Say Something" bill, to provide immunity for reports of suspected terrorist activity or suspicious behaviour, has been introduced in the US Senate by Senators Susan Collins and Joe Lieberman.
While Lieberman is the Chairman of Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Collins is its Ranking Member. The committee has held two hearings on the Mumbai terrorist attacks.
"The terrorist attacks in Mumbai are a sobering reminder that terrorists continue to threaten our nation and civilised people throughout the world. An alert citizenry is our first line of defence against terrorist attacks, particularly like those in Mumbai," Collins said introducing the bill in Senate.
Asserting that US laws must protect individuals from frivolous lawsuits when they report, in good faith, suspicious behaviour that may indicate terrorist activity, Collins said the new legislation would expand protections in the existing laws to reports of suspicious behaviour in sectors other than transportation.
