Universe

It is interesting that the founding fathers choose to specifically mention Treason in the Constitution. Perhaps their memory of Benedict Arnold was so clear and so hurtful to them that they felt the need to include this crime in the constitution. To the British, all signers of the Declaration of Independance were traitors and guilty of treason.

What really bothers me is that the issue of war and peace is too important and that I would think that today's Congress would have updated the crime of Treason. Not by amending the Constituion, but by passing a law specifically outlining certain acts for those citizens who harm the U.S.

In this day and age of terrorism, we are now seeing certain acts that do not qualifiy for the constituional charge of treason but do qualify as a "traitorous act". Many of these acts do not fall specifically under any other statute and often lessor penalty might be imposed as a result.

U.S. Citizens like John Walker who was found on the battlefield in Afganistan, Jose Puddula, Richard Reid, Mr. Shoe Bomber, and other U.S. citizens who choose to attack this country.

The trick here is to pass legislation that does not suppress valid free speech like the Sedition Act does, but allows some penalty for someone releasing classified information, planning to blow up a building, or attacking a U.S. Serviceman in the field or while walking down the street at home. We often see news outlets hiding behind the 1st amendment releasing information that they know will harm our troops. Hollywood portraying our serviceman as rapists and murderers during a time of war could be included as a traitorous act. What they do after the war is over is another issue.

During the heat of battle when lives are at stake, I do think it is irresponsible to release any information that aids or assists our enenemies.