The New York Legislature convened in a special session...

The New York Legislature convened in a special session where it enacted a broad anti-terrorism law and expanded the scope of the state's death penalty. The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 establishes six new terrorism-related offenses, and amends the state's death penalty statute to allow the death penalty for someone who commits murder in furtherance of terrorist activity. State Senator Thomas Duane, who opposed the legislation, stated, "The federal government already has laws which would bring the death penalty to those who utilize weapons of mass destruction." The new laws also expand the number of offenses that enable law enforcement officials to obtain warrants for eavesdropping and surveillance.