The Patriot Act: Cons And Pros

The Patriot Act was enacted in October of 2001 shortly after the attacks on 9/11 to have an important role in the war on terrorism. It substantially expanded the authority of U.S. law enforcement agencies for the main purpose of fighting terrorism in the United States and abroad. Due to its rapid enactment, it raises the question whether it’s pro-security or anti-freedom.

On one side, the Patriot Act is needed to ensure the safety of the United States against terrorism and without it our rights and liberties would be at greater risk. The Patriot Act allows both law enforcement and intelligence to share vital information which could prevent future terrorist strikes from occurring. It also eliminates the double standard between law enforcement and U.S. Intelligence in which they use the same tools that they use against terrorists that are already enforced against drug dealers and other criminals. Things are made easier by being able to track the phone contacts of a terrorist as you would with a local drug dealer. It also allows the internet to disclose customer information voluntarily to the government in emergencies involving potential death or risk of serious injury. This act also tackles the issue of terrorism financing which closes the gap concerning financing through informal money transfer networks rather than traditional financial institutions.

But on the other side, The Patriot violates our civil liberties and the constitution and goes too far in trying to protect America. For instance, it allows indefinite detentions of immigrants. It also allows the searching of homes and businesses not only without the consent of the persons being searched but without them having any knowledge of it at all.

It gives the F.B.I. the power to search telephone, e-mails, and financial records without the need of a court while allowing local law enforcement access to government records.

In conclusion the Patriot Act forces American