AIADA: 'We Must Send A Message To Autoterrorists'
27 October 2003 - 9:09PM
PR Newswire (US)
AIADA: 'We Must Send A Message To Autoterrorists' American
International Auto Dealers Commend Congressman Chris Chocola For
Legislation Making Automobile Sabotage a Federal Crime ALEXANDRIA,
Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- American International Automobile Dealers
Association (AIADA) Chairman Tim Smith today positioned his 10,000-
member association squarely behind Rep. Chris Chocola (IN-02), in
response to legislation introduced by the first-term Congressman
making it a federal offense to commit what the AIADA describes as
"autoterrorism." "People who target automobile owners with arson
and vandalism are nothing more than terrorists, and when they are
caught, they should be punished in the same way that other
terrorists are punished," commented AIADA Chairman Tim Smith.
"Autoterrorists employ the same tactics used by common terrorists
-- fear and intimidation -- to achieve a political end. We must
send a clear message to these extremists that malicious destruction
of property is unacceptable, and if you are caught, the
consequences will be severe." Smith made his comments today even as
international automobile dealers in Chocola's congressional
district expressed an interest in working with the Congressman to
help advance the legislation. Chocola's bill, the "Stop Terrorism
of Property Act of 2003" (HR 3307), was introduced in the House of
Representatives with 42 co-sponsors on October 16. "Automobile
dealers carry millions of dollars worth of inventory, and terrorism
targeting this inventory drives up the cost of business," commented
Bill Gates of Gates Toyota in South Bend, a local AIADA member who
strongly supports Chocola's legislation. "Autoterrorism places an
undue burden on small businesses, and that burden invariably falls
on both our employees and our customers." The bill was drafted
primarily in response to terrorist actions committed by the group
Earth Liberation Front (ELF). ELF has claimed responsibility for
scores of crimes against public and private property including
several attacks against automobile dealerships; its destruction of
property can be measured in millions of dollars. ELF's extremism
prompted a House Resolution (H.Con.Res. 126) in March in which
Congress condemned the group for destruction of property and
endangerment of human life. "Autoterrorists undermine the physical
security of American families and businesses, and unless and until
we raise the stakes against these militants, they will continue to
conduct business as usual," added Smith. "AIADA commends Rep.
Chocola for his efforts, and we will do everything possible to
ensure that this common-sense legislation is enacted." About AIADA:
Founded in 1970, AIADA represents the 10,000 American automobile
dealerships that sell and service international nameplate brands
including Acura, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Ferrari, Honda,
Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Maserati,
Maybach, Mazda, Mercedes, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Rolls
Royce, Saab, Scion, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.
These retailers have a positive economic impact both nationally and
in the local communities they serve, providing nearly 500,000
American jobs. Visit AIADA online at http://www.aiada.org/.
DATASOURCE: American International Automobile Dealers Association
CONTACT: Ed Patru of the American International Automobile Dealers
Association, +1-703-519-7800 Web site: http://www.aiada.org/
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