Pros and Cons of Patriot Act essays

Pros and Cons of Patriot Act essays The devastating events of September 11, 2001 traumatized Americans, and many innocent citizens lost their lives. Americans were so traumatized by 9/11 that they were ready to surrender their most treasured liberties. On October 26, 2001 President Bush signed a massive bill designed to combat terrorism into law. The bill passed hardly a week after the terrorist attack was passed with little debate and no formal hearings. The bill is the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism, largely known as The Patriot Act. Does this bill ask Americans to give up some of their freedoms for the sake of the country? Yes. Is it unconstitutional? This paper looks as the schools of thought surrounding the controversial Patriot Act. The USA Patriot Act was conceived by Attorney General John Ashcroft and passed through Congress under the pressure of G.W. Bush. Only one United States senator, Russell Feingold, of Wisconsin voted against the USA Patriot Act (EPIC). Feingold was quoted as saying Preserving our freedom is one of the main reasons that we are now engaged in this new war on terrorism. We will lose that war without firing a shot if we sacrifice the liberties of the American people(Brown). The act gave the government more powers to invade citizen privacy, imprison people without due process and allowed for more roving wiretaps without court orders. While that sounds extremely threatening the act also made it illegal for citizens to house known terrorist, tap phones of suspected terrorist, and tripled the number of border patrol and costumes inspectors throughout the country. The statute of limitation for prosecuting terrorist acts was lengthened, along with heightened measures against money laundering (Rosen). Many of the Patriot Act laws are targeted towards nationals. The most serious provisions of the Act are directed at non-citizens. So is it really ...