Patriot_Act

Arguments against the Patriot Act; While the design of the patriot act was well intended and resulted from a knee jerk reaction to a panic situation it is necessary to consider what it actually provides for and more importantly who is administering the programs. Even the author of the original bill is now supporting a revision known as the USA FREEDOM Act, a bill designed to “bring it back to the original intent, which was that the Justice Department would identify those engaged in a terrorist organization, get a (FISA) order to find out who that person was in contact with, and be able to try to spread that spider web to see who was involved in a plot that might target people either domestically or internationally.”(Peterson, 2013) In question and at the center of this controversy in particular is Title II “Enhanced Surveillance Procedures” making a connection available between suspected terrorist and anyone they may be contact without evidence of an actual crime. Broader powers of authority are not the answer in a system that fails to regulate itself in accordance with the Constitution. (Bradley, 2002) “The U.S. Constitution (specifically the Bill of Rights) guarantees every American certain Individual rights. Some of these rights include; freedom from unreasonable search and seizures, a right to due process of law, and protection against cruel and unusual punishment (The 4th, 5th and 8th Amendments). Historically the criminal justice system has preserved these rights of peopled accused of crimes” (Taylor, 2003). Because the influence of the war on terrorism included domestic terrorism words like prior restraint and freedom of expression have been topics of debate when discussions about loss of privacy, freedom of speech and protections enjoyed by citizens of this country are challenged. Exchanging on protection for another should never be considered an even exchange when the loss comes at the sacrifice of personal liberties. Recent events concerning government agencies like the National Security Administration represent the slippery slope you start down when absolute power is granted to organizations that fail to self-regulate themselves and take advantage of a situation to gain additional knowledge outside the scope of investigations originally intended to prevent damage to property and loss of life. References Taylor, G. (2003, July 21). Communities Shun Patriot Act. www.washingtontimes.com. Retrieved October 09, 2013, http://dynamics.washtimes.com/print_story.cfm Bradley, A. (2002). Extremism in the Defense of Liberty, The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Significance of the USA PATRIOT Act. Tulane Law Review, 465 Retrieved 09 October 14, 2013 Andrea Peterson, Patriot Act author: ‘There has been a failure of oversight.’ The Wahsington Post, Retrieved October 11, 2013