Usa_Patriot_Act

The USA PATRIOT act is a controversial topic in many aspects. Its infringement on personal rights is unconstitutional yet the act is exactly what the US was asking for to battle the war on terrorism. This essay explains both the pros & the cons of the USA PATRIOT act. USA PATRIOT is an acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. This long phrase pushes a long held debate between civil liberties activists and the U.S. government. The USA PATRIOT act was enacted only 43days after the September 11th, 2001 attack in New York and Washington D.C. In this essay there will be an argument towards the pro’s and con’s of this act. In The US Department of Justice explained in its July 2004 "Report from the Field: The USA PATRIOT Act at Work": "Immediately after the brutal terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, both Congress and the Administration reexamined the legal tools available to investigators and prosecutors in the fight against terrorism... As a result of those efforts, Congress overwhelmingly passed, and on October 26, 2001, the President signed the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act ("USA PATRIOT Act" or "Act")... The USA PATRIOT Act equips federal law enforcement and intelligence officials with the tools they need to mount an effective, coordinated campaign against our nation’s terrorist enemies. The Act revised counterproductive legal restraints that impaired law enforcement’s ability to gather, analyze, and share critical terrorism-related intelligence information. The Act also updated decades-old federal laws to account for the technological breakthroughs seen in recent years... the Act enhanced America’s criminal laws against terrorism, in some cases increasing the penalties for planning and participating in terrorist attacks and aiding terrorists. The Act also clarified that existing laws against terrorism apply to the new types of attacks planned by al Qaeda and other international terrorist organizations." On the other hand The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), in its paper about the USA PATRIOT Act, on the "The USA PATRIOT Act" section of its website (accessed Apr. 10, 2007) stated: "The USA PATRIOT Act... was quickly developed as anti-terrorism legislation in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The large and complex law received little Congressional oversight and debate, and was signed into law by President Bush Oct. 26, 2001. PATRIOT gives sweeping search and surveillance to domestic law enforcement and foreign intelligence agencies and eliminates checks and balances that previously gave courts the opportunity to ensure that those powers were not abused. PATRIOT and follow-up legislation now in development threaten the basic rights of millions of Americans." My personal take on this issue is that all is needed to protect our borders, our citizens, and our way of life. The USA PATRIOT act was rushed but was needed in order to protect the American public and to bring those who have harmed us, to justice. This act helped pave the way for law enforcement officials to enforce the laws that at time hindered there better efforts. To conclude this act was welcomed by most, feared by the guilty and will help deter future terrorist threats. July 2004 - United States Department of Justice Oct. 12, 2001 - Russ Feingold, JD