2002 Ron Paul 61:1
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, as appalling as it is
that some would travel abroad to engage in
activities that are rightly illegal in the United
States, legislation of this sort poses many
problems and offers little solution. First among
these is the matter of national sovereignty.
Those who travel abroad and break the law in
their host country should be subject to prosecution
in that country: it is the responsibility
of the host country — not the U.S. Congress —
to uphold its own laws. It is a highly unique
proposal to suggest that committing a crime in
a foreign country against a non-U.S. citizen is
within the jurisdiction of the United States
Government.
2002 Ron Paul 61:2
Mr. Speaker, this legislation makes it a federal
crime to “travel with intent to engage in illicit
sexual conduct.” I do think this is a practical
approach to the problem. It seems that
this bill actually seeks to probe the conscience
of anyone who seeks to travel abroad to make
sure they do not have illegal or immoral intentions.
It is possible or even advisable to make
thoughts and intentions illegal? And how is
this to be carried out? Should federal agents
be assigned to each travel agency to probe
potential travelers as to the intent of their travel?
2002 Ron Paul 61:3
At a time when federal resources are
stretched to the limit, and when we are not
even able to keep known terrorists out of our
own country, this bill would require federal
agents to not only track Americans as they vacation
abroad but would require that they be
able to divine the intentions of these individuals
who seek to travel abroad. Talk about a
tall order! As well-intentioned as I am sure this
legislation is, I do not believe that it is a practical
or well-thought-out approach to what I
agree is a serious and disturbing problem.
perhaps a better approach would be to share
with those interested countries our own laws
and approaches to prosecuting those who
commit these kinds of crimes, so as to see
more effective capture and punishment of
these criminals in the countries where the
crime is committed.
