Were the Austin bombings acts of terrorism? Why law enforcement says no

Some legal experts say that the word “terrorism” is being applied too broadly today, both under the law and by people who want to emphasize the horror of the crime.

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“After 9/11, the definition expanded and continues to lose its coherence and continuity,” said Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law expert at George Washington University who has served as counsel in a number of national security and terrorism cases. The notion of terrorism “has almost become an exclamation point for criminal cases,” he said.

If someone like Mr. Paddock, the Las Vegas shooter, is considered a terrorist, “then every serial killer in history would be a terrorist,” Mr. Turley said. “If everybody is a terrorist, then the actual crime loses its definition and meaning.” And ultimately, he said, there could be an expansion of the government’s power to investigate, as well as tougher sentencing.

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