(STATEHOUSE) Feb. 3, 2009 -State Rep. Bill Davis (R-Portland) stood with Republican representatives and senators today as a sponsor to the resolution urging President Barack Obama's administration to keep Guantanamo Bay's detainees out of Indiana's federal prison. The resolution was authored by Sen. Marlin Stutzman (R-Howe) in response to an executive signed by President Obama ordering the Guantanamo Bay detention facility closed within a year. Terre Haute's federal maximum-security facility may emerge as a top option for the 240 detainees. "I stand beside Sen. Stutzman and many other legislators in support of this important call to our federal government," said Rep. Davis. "It is important that Indiana is not singled out because we have a federal facility that can house these detainees. We need to be careful to not encourage or invite terrorists to Indiana and put our citizens at risk." Rep. Davis, along with Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Jimtown), will carry the House version of this resolution. Last month, one terrorist suspect who had been released after five years at Guantanamo Bay resurfaced as an Al-Qaeda commander in Yemen, further highlighting the dangers associated with closing the facility and relocating detainees. Facilities in South Carolina, Kansas, California and Colorado are possible locations for the reassignment of detainees. Legislation has been drafted by U.S. House of Representatives that would block transfers to a prison just north of San Diego. U.S. congressmen from South Carolina and Colorado have opposed the idea of bringing detainees to their states, as well. |
