SENATE BILL: Extraterrestrial Act of 2014 (Law'd)

[President Tyrion]

I quickly dropped in some stuff about biohazard containment, but I wasn't quite sure how to approach it.

There are a lot of factors we need to consider now that we're not alone, so hopefully we can craft this into sort of an omnibus bill on the topic.

[President Tyrion]

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As SOIA I take biological hazards, and all pandemic possibilities as a serious threat.  However, this body should not be working to limit my ability to respond to such threats with the definite article,  "from extraterrestrial contact", nor am I unable to allocate these funds directly. 

Also, keep in mind that these "ships" may not be "extraterrestrial contact."  Putin might have some tricks up his sleeve, after all.

So do you believe federal action is necessary on the topic at all?

[President Tyrion]

Well, our government has not verified anything, but I'm wary about leaving a situation unlegislated if it comes to fruition.

[President Tyrion]

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[President Tyrion]

How are other nations responding to this? I'd be interested in seeing how they plan to approach this possibility.

Or is this another one of those crazy media hysterias like Y2K?

Well, the media is always hysterical, after all. I wonder if CNN will ever leave my driveway.

[President Tyrion]

I suppose we can first see if these aliens mean any harm before we start considering other options. I mean, there isn't any precedent for something like this.

Well, I think the biohazard stuff is important regardless of whether they "mean" harm. Any exposure to their form of symbiotic microbial life could easily result in death. Really, it's small pox blankets times a million.

[President Tyrion]

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[President Tyrion]

Sure, we can clean it up. I just want to prevent ne'er-do-wells from creating widespread public panic over a hoax.

[President Tyrion]

Yeah, I made them recommended minimums specifically to address that issue.

Freedom of expression is a tricky subject, but I don't know that we should protect the right of those who want to stir a frenzy. Mild comments by Joe Schmoe about aliens, however, are fine.

I'd be glad to consider a rewrite of this clause to reflect that, if anyone would care to bring it forward.

[President Tyrion]

Aye

[President Tyrion]

This hoax was a Chinese military operation. This bill wouldn't change anything except to limit free speech here in Atlasia. We can't prosecute Chinese military in Atlasia unless we take them as POAs.

All we do with this bill is punish people for making hoaxes. It's already illegal for people to make false claims to law enforcement anyway, so if someone calls claiming something that doesn't exist, they may already get punished.

Regardless of whether or not it was the Chinese this time, the fact of the matter is that a private citizen could do such a thing. And we all know things like this spawn copycats.

[President Tyrion]

I highly doubt a private citizen can mimic a full scale military operation like the Chinese.

But carry on. I'm just trying to protect freedom of speech and expression for our citizens. I don't care about the Chinese. Our laws and constitutional protections don't apply to them.

Well, it doesn't have to be as large scale to induce a panic.

I don't really care for the anti-free-speech posturing. Free speech is not an absolute right. To go back to the old adage, you can't scream "Fire!" in a crowded theater.

[President Tyrion]

If someone has an amendment, offer it! We can go from there.

[President Tyrion]

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[President Tyrion]

Sir Tyrion, if I may just intrude
A moment with a question to be asked,
How would one go about determining
"Significant physical or financial harm"?

I think that would have to be left to judicial discretion.

[President Tyrion]

Friendly

[President Tyrion]

I'm ready for a final vote.

[President Tyrion]

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[President Tyrion]

Aye