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News Release
For Immediate Release: January 22, 2009
Contact: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355

Note to Congressman John Murtha: We Don’t Want Guantanamo Prisoners

(Harrisburg) – The astonishing offer by Congressman John Murtha to take the terrorist prisoners from Guantanamo and house them in his district, if President Obama closes the prison, is beyond comprehension. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide family organization, contacted Congressman Murtha and asked him to reconsider his offer.

“Apparently Congressman Murtha does not understand how dangerous these people are. We’re not talking about your common pickpocket or arsonist; we’re talking about people who hate America and five of them who allegedly took part in the plan to kill almost 3,000 of us on September 11, 2001. The Congressman’s offer is ludicrous,” commented Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

Family members of those killed on 911 and in other terrorist attacks are outraged at the prospect that these men may never see justice. They are outraged that more American lives may be put at risk if the criminal proceedings are moved to American soil. Twenty-one detainees face war crimes charges.

How soon we forget the terror of September 11, 2001. Four planes used as missiles to attack and destroy in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Obviously Congressman Murtha has forgotten that if Flight 93 was a few more miles due north of where it went down in Shanksville, it would have hit his hometown of Johnstown. Now he is willing to place the residents in his district at risk by offering to house these terrorists.

The e-mail to Congressman Murtha said in part, “You said in a Fox News article, ‘They're no more dangerous in my district than in Guantanamo.’

The message continued: “We don't believe the constituents in your district share your lack of concern over the terrorists being housed in their neighborhood. Ninety miles of water between the terrorists and American soil provides a lot of protection for us. What you propose is dangerous not only to the people in PA's 12th Congressional District, but to all Pennsylvanians and ultimately all of America.”

“On 911 Shanksville was part of Congressman Murtha’s district. It is now part of Pennsylvania’s 9^th Congressional District. We don’t see Congressman Bill Shuster offering to house the Guantanamo Bay prisoners. Our hope is that Congressman Murtha will see the danger of placing American-hating terrorists in our backyards and withdraw his shameful offer,” Gramley continued.

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