Increasing Federal Penalties For Threatening Violence Against Religious Community Centers (H.R. 1730)

What is H.R. 1730?

(Updated April 12, 2018)

This bill would increase the federal penalty for bomb threats and other credible threats of violence against community religious centers and ensure those actions could be prosecuted as a hate crime. The penalty would now include up to five years imprisonment.

Argument in favor

There’s been an alarming rise in bomb threats and other violence against religious community centers, so increasing the federal penalty would help deter those crimes.

Argument opposed

Increasing prison sentences for threatening violence against religious community centers is unlikely to deter those who make the threats.

Impact

Those convicted of threatening violence against religious community centers; and law enforcement.

Cost of H.R. 1730

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would have an insignificant impact on the federal budget.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) introduced this bill to increase the federal penalty for making a bomb threat or other credible threat of violence against a religiously affiliated community center and make that prosecutable as a hate crime:

“The rise in threats at religious community centers is deeply disturbing and makes it clear that existing federal laws do not suitably deter these acts of hate. Religious tolerance is the bedrock on which our great nation was founded. We must defend the individual liberties of our neighbors of all faiths and protect places of worship, and I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that addresses the issue head on.”

Original cosponsor Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) added:

“No American should be made a target because of his or her faith. Sadly, religious community centers across the country have increasingly had to lock down their facilities and call in bomb squads. I’m proud to support this bipartisan bill to ensure America remains a beacon of tolerance and respect for religion and free speech.”

This legislation passed the House Judiciary Committee on a voice vote and has the support of 45 bipartisan cosponsors, including 30 Democrats and 15 Republicans.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN) Press Release
  
• House Judiciary Committee Press Release
  
• CBO Cost Estimate