Aids

Act

The USA PATRIOT Act is short for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism" Act of 2001 and is a controversial piece of federal legislation in the United States. Freedom in the United States has become increasingly constricted since 2001. Not only did the terrorist attacks of September 11 have a drastic effect on the U.S. economy, but also our nation's response has tested the limits of America's core freedoms. However, this act may do more harm than good. Some groups, such as the American Library Association, state that the act infringes on Fourth Amendment rights guaranteed to us in the Constitution. Others say that the legislation will help protect the citizens from potential terrorist attacks.

Many Americans are in favor of the Patriot Act because they are under the impression that it will increase national security in these perilous times. Supporters state that it reduces terrorists' ability to operate within the United States by allowing law enforcement to access information such as bank statements, library records and emails without notifying individuals of the search. Supporters also claim that the act cultivates cooperation between the FBI and CIA, allowing officials to easily obtain information about individuals suspected to be threats to national security.

Opponents of the act however, say that the legislation "threatens the rights of the public and undermines the confidentiality that is vital for the flow of information needed for the provision of library services and, importantly, the vitality of our democracy." The association feels that the easy flow of information through the library system has been threatened by the act. As a result, people will refrain from obtaining information from some research resources out of fear that each action could lead to trouble.

Many of those against the act cite ideas presented