In the wake of the Paris terror attacks, the Florida Legislature is considering a measure to criminalize verbally threatening a terror attack.
Under HB 257, which was approved this week by the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, making a verbal terror threat could result in five years in prison. If a threat were to lead to the mass evacuation of a public gathering place such as an airport or stadium, the penalty would be 15 years.
"It's important to keep everyone safe and protected, even if it's just being a little bit overcautious," Josh Brizel, a Florida State University student who attends Seminole football games, said of the legislation.
Critics, however, warn the measure could infringe on free speech protections enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution.
"People's feelings get hurt all the time and they get instilled with fear. You only can criminalize but so much when somebody's exercising a First Amendment right to speak what they want," said Brian Pitts, a good government advocate who aggressively lobbies the Legislature on a wide range of issues.
The bill's supporters note free speech protections don't apply to making a bomb threat, which has long been criminalized. They argue the bill simply applies the same penalties to terror threats.