Coast Guard Lieutenant Christopher Paul Hasson was arrested last week on suspicion of plotting a domestic terrorist attack on several prominent liberal and progressive politicians and media pundits. Hasson’s plot was discovered after members of the Coast Guard noticed he was using his work computer to browse extremist websites. After searching his home, authorities seized dozens of firearms, body armor, over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and a cache of Tramadol, a narcotic drug. It was also discovered that Hasson idolizes Anders Breivik, the Norwegian man who murdered 77 civilians in 2011. Prosecutors claim Hasson intended to “murder civilians on a scale rarely seen in this country.” Hasson is set to be detained until his trial, which is not yet scheduled.
Instructors, click on the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. In addition to the resources provided below, the deck contains discussion questions, an in-class activity, an online activity, and assessment questions.
Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for Coast Guard Domestic Terrorist
Learning Objective 1: Discuss potential relationships between social variables relevant to domestic terrorism and terrorists.
Learning Objective 2: Discuss how terror events can contribute to public demand for changes to gun laws and other social changes.
Learning Objective 3: Explain the significance of race/ethnicity to the public discourse related to domestic terrorists.
Video
Additional Resources
Tim Dickinson, “The Foiled ‘Domestic Terrorist’ Plot Is Chilling in Detail and Scope” (Rolling Stone, Text)
Tess Owen, “‘White nationalist’ in the Coast Guard was stockpiling guns to massacre Democrats and journalists, prosecutors say” (Vice News, Text)
Sophie Tatum and Jessica Schneider, “Coast Guard officer’s lawyer argues it is not a crime to think negative thoughts about people” (CNN, Text/Video)
Emily Stewart, “A Coast Guard officer’s arrest is the latest example of the rising problem of right-wing terrorism in America” (Vox, Text)
Michael Balsamo, Associated Press “Prosecutors say Coast Guard lieutenant is domestic terrorist with hit list” (PBS News Hour, Text)
Luke Barnes, “Coast Guard lieutenant accused of domestic terrorism had all the signs of online radicalization” (ThinkProgress, Text)
Owen Daugherty and Rachel Frazin, “Coast Guard lieutenant arrested, accused of planning domestic terrorism” (The Hill, Text/Video)
Jon Levine, “To Plot Mass Killing, Coast Guard Lt. Paul Hasson Studied a Mass Killer’s Manifesto, Prosecutors Say” (The Wrap, Text)
Lauren Egan, “Sarah Sanders: No need for Trump to tone down rhetoric following Hasson arrest” (NBC News, Text)