MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Judiciary

By: Senator(s) Walls

AN ACT TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF A TERRORISTIC THREAT OR ACT; TO PRESCRIBE THE ELEMENTS THEREOF AND THE PENALTIES THEREFOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. A person commits the offense of a terroristic threat when he threatens to commit any crime of violence or to burn or damage property with the purpose of terrorizing another or of causing the evacuation of a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transportation or otherwise causing serious public inconvenience, or in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience. No person shall be convicted under this subsection on the uncorroborated testimony of the party to whom the threat is communicated. A person convicted of the offense of a terroristic threat shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both.

SECTION 2. (1) A person commits the offense of a terroristic act when:

(a) He uses a bomb, burning or flaming cross or other burning or flaming symbol or flambeau or other incendiary device with the intent to terrorize; or

(b) While not in the commission of a lawful act, he shoots at or throws an object at any conveyance which is being operated or which is occupied by passengers or at any occupied building with the intent to terrorize one or more occupants of the conveyance or building.

(2) A person convicted of the offense of a terroristic act shall be guilty of a felony and shall be punished by a fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.