USA Patriot Act is fair

The United States Congress introduced the USA Patriot Act after the September 11th terrorist attacks. It was instated for the purpose of combating terrorist acts in the United States and all over the globe. This act gives the government the right to view your personal records in order to create a safer environment for our community. The patriot act is a benefit for the United States in that we can now be much more secure knowing that potential terrorists are being suspected and halted before they can commit any real damage to our society. It does require a minor invasion of your privacy, but it’s for a better and safer America. After all, what do the non-terrorists have to fear if we have nothing to hide.

The patriot act has so far captured 400 suspected terrorists and half of them have been convicted. Now, imagine what they might have been capable of if we had not been able to know in advance what they were planning? Before the patriot act was instated, criminal investigators were stopped dead by a legal wall. With the patriot act now in full effect, law enforcement officials can now work together while sharing information and in the end, bring all terrorists to justice. After all, information sharing has made a huge impact, especially when two years ago the FBI helped bring down a man who plotted to destroy the New York City Bridge.

(F)- Two years ago, FBI agents in Ohio confronted Iyman Faris, and he was charged with providing support to al-Qaida after he, among other things, agreed to take part in a plot to destroy a New York City bridge. The capture came after an investigation that involved more than a dozen agencies in the Southern Ohio Joint Terrorism Task Force that was made possible by the Patriot Act. According to one FBI agent, “The Faris case would not have happened without sharing information. We would never have even had the lead.”-(F)

The patriot act also extends the use of roving wiretaps, which help in international terrorism investigations. However, before a law official may use one, he must receive consent from a judge. Without the use of the roving wiretaps, terrorists would be able to escape the law much easier by simply purchasing a new cell phone. In order to create this safe community without terrorism, we need to give our law enforcement officers the technology they need to track down suspected terrorists.

This patriot act sounds all well and good, but how do we know if it will be used responsibly without an extreme inbreachment of privacy? (G)- Congress has oversight responsibilities. Congress created a civil liberties board to ensure the patriot act and other laws uphold civil liberties. The patriot act protects America and defends American liberties. -(G) A government official will need inexplicable evidence in order to pose a real threat to your privacy. Without real evidence and the consent of a judge, the government cannot for instance, plant a roving wiretap on you.

In the United States Bill of Rights, the fourth amendment forbids “unreasonable” search and seizure. People claim that the patriot act is violating our 4th amendment and the government is trying to take away our freedoms. Since when did the search for terrorists become unreasonable? The government has reason to suspect everyone after what happened on September 11th 2001, and any suspicious activity should be watched for. At least I know that if I give up some of my privacy, my country and my people will be safer from terrorist attacks. Check me all you want! I have nothing to hide. Unless you do have something to hide. Otherwise you should have no problem letting the government check you for any terrorist operations.

Is the most terrifying fear among people opposing the Patriot Act the fact that it has given the government the right to look through our library records? Big deal! As strange as it sounds, this is actually cause for concern among people who have nothing better to worry about. Maybe nothing in the Patriot Act has given more fear to the people than the government snooping around to obtain library and business records. Are library records an inbreachment of the 4th amendment? Is there a librarian-borrower confidentiality that no one has ever heard of? Who should care if the government found out that you took out a book for a school paper? I personally could care less, especially if that small sacrifice helps the government learn that a guy named Osoma has suddenly acquired an interest in buildings, airplanes and combustible chemicals.

The Patriot Act is due to expire December 31 2005. Given the importance of the Patriot Act tools to our nation’s war against terrorism, why would we ameliorate these provisions when we know that the terrorists will not abandon their evil intentions? There is absolutely no logical reason for our nation to get rid of some of its most important defenses in fighting this war. We have but one choice and that is to make the Patriot Act permanent in order to deter further terrorist plots. In the end the Patriot Act will save this country. Reinstate the Patriot Act!