Legal Definitions - domestic terrorism

Domestic terrorism refers to acts of violence or threats of violence that are dangerous to human life, violate federal or state criminal laws, and appear intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population, influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion, or affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.

Crucially, these acts are committed by individuals or groups *within* the United States, without direction or inspiration from a foreign terrorist group or foreign state. The perpetrators are typically U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Here are some examples to illustrate domestic terrorism:

• Example 1: Bombing of a Federal Building

  An individual, deeply frustrated with a new federal tax law, constructs and detonates a homemade explosive device outside a regional Internal Revenue Service (IRS) office. The blast causes significant structural damage and injures several employees and passersby. The perpetrator later issues a manifesto demanding the repeal of the tax law, stating their intent to "send a message" to the government.

  This illustrates domestic terrorism because the act of violence (bombing) is dangerous to human life and violates criminal law. It occurs entirely within the U.S., and the perpetrator's clear intent is to coerce the U.S. government into changing a specific policy through intimidation and destruction.

• Example 2: Cyberattack on a City's Power Grid

  A domestic extremist group, aiming to create widespread panic and force a local government to abandon a controversial urban development project, launches a sophisticated cyberattack. This attack successfully disrupts the operational technology of a major city's electrical power grid, causing widespread blackouts and disrupting essential services for several days.

  This fits the definition as it involves an act dangerous to human life (disrupting critical infrastructure) and violates criminal laws (cybercrime). The attack is carried out by a group operating within the U.S., and its purpose is to intimidate a civilian population and influence the conduct of local government through disruption and fear.

• Example 3: Armed Occupation and Threats at a State Capitol

  A group of armed individuals, protesting state-level gun control legislation, forcibly occupies a section of their state capitol building during a legislative session. They issue demands for the immediate repeal of the laws, threatening to harm lawmakers or staff if their demands are not met. Their actions cause the building to be evacuated and legislative proceedings to halt.

  This demonstrates domestic terrorism because the armed occupation and explicit threats of violence are dangerous to human life and violate criminal statutes (e.g., unlawful assembly, assault, obstruction of government function). The acts occur within the U.S., and the group's clear intent is to coerce the state government into changing its legislative policies.