The law was passed in response to the murder of Leon Klinghoffer, a wheelchair-bound American who was shot and then tossed off an Italian cruise ship by Palestinian hijackers.

这项法律的通过是为了响应林霍夫谋杀案—一个被枪击的坐轮椅的美国人被巴基斯坦的劫机者弃尸在了一艘意大利的游轮上。