Washington, DC - Oklahoma Senators Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn have joined with other U.S. senators in expressing outrage over a report by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano which classifies returning veterans as possible terrorist threats.

Read The DHS Report Read the letter sent by Senators to Napolitano.

The letter was sent to Napolitano on Thursday.

"While we agree that extremists of all varieties represent a potential threat to the United States, we are troubled by some of the statements included as fact in the report," the Senators say.

The DHS report, entitled "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment", claims DHS has no specific information that domestic rightwing terrorists are currently planning acts of violence. But, it does go on to say that rightwing groups could try to recruit those with conservative beliefs, including returning veterans from wars in Iraq (web | news) and Afghanistan because of their weapons and combat skills.

"Using the DHS rationale, do you also believe that weapons familiarity and tactical training means local, state and federal law enforcement personnel and members of the National Guard are also being recruited," the Senators ask. "To suggest that a soldier returning from a combat tour is more prone to join an extremist group is unconscionable and insulting to our brave men and women who risk their lives protecting our freedom."

The senators also criticize Napolitano's suggestion that millions of Americans who believe in the Second Amendment are a potential threat to national security and that those who believe in pro-life legislation, limited government and legal versus illegal immigration are potential terrorist threats.

"We can assure you that these beliefs are held by citizens of all races, party affiliations and sex and should not be listed as a factor in determining potential terrorist threats," the letter states. "A better way to describe them is as citizens exercising their First Amendment rights."

Coburn issued a statement today on his website.

"This carelessly written and poorly reasoned report is offensive to not only our veterans, but to every American who is passionately committed to the ideals of limited government, life and liberty that made our country great."

Inhofe also took offense to what he called an attack on returning veterans, but also conservative-minded Americans.

"I find it reprehensible that within this report Americans who hold certain beliefs regarding issues such as immigration, the Second Amendment, and abortion fall under the report’s broad generalization of rightwing extremists, and are therefore considered a potential threat," he said. "I believe this report to be very offensive to many Americans."

The report was also criticized on the local level by Oklahoma State Senator Steven Russell, who proposed a resolution that would oppose the Napolitano report.

Russell, a retired Army Colonel and veteran of both Iraq  (web | news) and Afghanistan, sponsored Senate Resolution. It demands President Obama's Administration 'retract this report and apologize to America’s returning war veterans'.

"To suggest that we would terrorize the very nation we risked our lives for should give all Americans pause," said Russell.

Napolitano has apologized to veterans who were offended by the report and issued the following statement:

"We are on the lookout for criminal and terrorist activity but we do not – nor will we ever – monitor ideology or political beliefs," Napolitano said. "We take seriously our responsibility to protect the civil rights and liberties of the American people, including subjecting our activities to rigorous oversight from numerous internal and external sources."

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