As a means of addressing the rising threat of bioterrorism, the House Judiciary Committee has approved a bill criminalizing possession of certain deadly substances.
Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) and Kathleen Rice (D-NY) introduced the Effective Prosecution of Possession of Biological Toxins and Agents Act, which they said closes a loophole in federal law allowing dangerous toxins and agents to be knowingly accumulated by individuals without proper registration.
“With the threat of bioterrorism on the rise, it’s more important than ever to ensure that our legal system is equipped to properly punish individuals who knowingly accumulate deadly toxins and agents without required registration,” Ratcliffe said. “As a former federal prosecutor, I’m committed to improving the laws on the books to make sure that dangerous substances are kept out of the hands of people who can use them for malign activity.”
As a former prosecutor, Rice said that she has always been committed to improving the nation’s legal system and closing loopholes in our laws.
“As the threat of bioterrorism continues to grow and evolve, we need to empower our law enforcement agencies with the ability prosecute individuals who accumulate deadly chemicals with the intent of causing harm,” Rice continued. “We need to ensure that our laws reflect the severity of this threat, and that’s what this bill will help us accomplish.”