LOL, Critical studies? hell no dude, I'm a fifty year old high school drop out that doesn't give a damn who or what the marks are. Coming to u from a lifetime of experiences, going off of the etymology of the word critical... combined with 'thinking' this suggests the continuation of extremist ideologies which will not be confined or defeated through the use of more vain definitions and the pursuant legal actions that fool-low. The underlying intention of defining terrorism in legal terms is to use words as weapons, which is insane if one wants to end terrorism.
Fear profits in fears, and when invested with anger or hatred the dividends are paid in woe.
Understand your own fear and stop letting it use you, then stop others from brandishing fear without falling prey to the very thing you hunt (extremist patterns of behaviour and frightened angry people).
fear is a legitimate response to threats
fear-mongering CAN be used as a propaganda device
fear is also what terrorist organizations seek to create through mass casualty attacks and high profile murders
the whole point of critical thinking is to understand whether you are being manipulated or whether you are the target of an extremist organization; and then how to respond to that situation
both words and laws can be used as weapons, as you stated. It is best to think HOW to use these weapons effectively