Patriot Act

U.S. Patriot Act

After the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centers, America realized just how big of a threat terrorism posed. The good people of the United States wanted our government to protect them and their loved ones from future attacks. The ability for the government to perform these duties required special tools, which were supplied in the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act. So far, the act has proven that it does give sufficient tools in preventing terrorism, but it also goes beyond its limits and takes away some of our civil liberties granted to us in the US Constitution.

On September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial jets and used them as weapons against the U.S. Two were wrecked into the World Trade Center's Twin Towers, another into the military headquarters' Pentagon, and the third crash-landed out in the open country. These attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 innocent people. These attacks started not only new issues, but wars that to this day are still developing. Since 9/11 there have been numerous terrorist attacks on other countries performed by the same terrorist group as well as threats towards the U.S. This proves that terrorism is still a very real threat that may have only swelled since the Twin Towers fell.

Immediately following the attacks on the World Trade Center, President Bush singed in the Antiterrorism Bill, which would allow our law enforcement and secret service agencies to look more closely at any suspected terrorist activity. However, the bill has led critics to believe that these government agencies might have too much power, and that our civil liberties may very well be at risk. The U.S. Patriot Act contains over 100 provisions but only a select few have sparked the most interest among civil libertarians. There are two Sections, which may really intrude on the Average Joe and make something as simple as going to the library a little questionable. One of these, possibly the most controversial of them all, is Section 215(called the "library provision"), which grants federal agents the ability to look up personal records for intelligence or international terrorism investigations. This means that at any time, a federal agent could be looking up the books that you may have checked out, or even be pulling your medical history. Further more, under the bill, the librarian or clerk who gave out the records is not allowed to mention whether they ever did so. This section is going beyond the needs of the Federal Government to investigate terrorism. It leaves the door to abuse wide open and leaves the innocent citizens of America at risk. The second, which is equally unnerving, is Section 213. This one allows officials to delay telling someone if they have searched his or her home. Just how long