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Let me clarify something real quick regarding my definition of intent (that might be part of the confusion regarding my post).
To me, intent includes everything up to the action itself. I think planning is part of the intent. (i.e. I intend to go to the store. If I get in an accident on my way to the store and never make it, my original intent was to go to the store, regardless of where I ended up)
While I agree about thought crimes, I am referring to someone who "intends" to do something, hasn't done it yet, but has the desire. If your definition of intent only includes the thought, then my argument will not work for you. I believe, however, that intent includes a whole lot more then the thought itself.
hannukah harry - yes I did use part of your post but I understood the rest. I think that someone that wants to blow up a building has a probability of trying to find the means to do so. Using my definition of intent, the person is in a very dangerous stage, and if he can be stopped, then we should do so. Maijnly because I think intent involves more then just a hairbrained idea floating in somebody's mind.
BTW - To everybody that thinks intent is not a crime, look again. It is a crime, you can be arrested, tried, convicted and go to jail for intent. In our legal system, the definition of intent includes posing a threat (i.e. he didn't shoot me, but he intended to - ADW, etc.). Rather then go into every example, I am sure that everybody here is aware of the crimes in our country that involve intent. If, for some reason, you think intent is not a crime in the US, I will post more examples to further my point that intent is a crime and (by definition in our judicial system) is more then just a thought in somebody's head.
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