Terrorist Bombs In The U.s. Essay -- essays research papers

Although the people of the United States are still concerned with the threat of international terrorists attacking our land and citizens, there has been an alarming increase in domestic terrorism that has raised the nation’s concern about this problem. This increase in terrorist activity has not been imported from other countries but has had it’s start within our nations boundaries. This increased violence seems to be aimed at influencing governmental policy and public opinion. â€Å"The recent increase in domestic violence is said to be associated with the rise of anti-government sentiment and the proliferation of self-styled militia and paramilitary groups - some of which take extremist positions on race, religion, federal authority, gun control, or taxation (Fisher 1998).† One of the most devastating and well known forms of terrorism are bombings. Most of the violence associated with anti-governmental attacks takes this form. According to a recent Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) report, bombings or attempted bombings increased from 2,098 in 1990 to 3,199 in 1994 (the latest year available), a 52% increase. Property damage from bombings rose to $7.5 million, with 308 people injured and 31 killed. This does not take into account the tragic Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Some ATF experts believe that it is the ready availability of materials and easy access to instructions and explosives information on the internet that has been the reason for this increase of bombings. There are several theories in the class text that help to explain the justification behind the actions of these local terrorist in our country. H. H. A. Cooper (1977) describes one called the â€Å"doctrine of necessity.† He believes that these terrorist cannot accept the world as it is and they also reject the possibility of peaceful means for social change. This is why they become terrorist. Cooper feels most of the terrorist do not enjoy the thought of random violence and murder but that they are driven by their utter hatred of the social status quo. He believes the first step in being a terrorist is the violent rejections of normative society. Although most terrorist do not enjoy violence or wish to adopt terrorist methods, Cooper feels that they are forced toward violence. Violence becomes necessary because there is no other alternative for correcting the injustices of contempor... ...vehicle that we have that has communication devices, computers, and so on for the incident. It kind of looks like a mobile home. There are usually people who are in charge of specific responsibilities that order things to happen. Traffic control, media, ground assault, surveillance, air, security and so on. By speaking with this officer, I learned that there are many aspects of terrorism. Even though many terrorist events have not happened here in Los Angeles, there are agencies and people that have training and are prepared just in case some thing were to happen. There are many things that can be looked for that alert of possible terrorist threat. This terrorist threat is very real here in Los Angeles because of the society involved in Los Angeles. As in the theories discussed earlier, there are people who have bad social conditions in Los Angeles and there is also a proliferation of different races. This could cause some friction. Also there are many who believe that Los Angeles has many morally corrupt people such as gays and lesbians. It is important to understand these theories of terrorism in a practical way in order to help save lives and understand and prevent terrorism.