On September 11, 2001, nineteen terrorists hijacked four planes, launching the deadliest terrorist attack to ever touch American soil in our country’s history. Much damage was done throughout the course of the attacks including the collapse of both of the Twin Towers of New York City. The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia was also struck. A total of around 2700 American citizens died on that day. On September 20, 2001, President George W. Bush gave a speech to the nation saying, “On September the 11th, enemies of freedom committed an act of war against our country… I will not yield; I will not rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people,”1 And, the government has definitely worked to great heights to protect the welfare and liberty of the American people. 9/11 would soon play as the root cause for the controversial USA PATRIOT Act. However, though, the PATRIOT Act is supported by many, it is seen as an attack on civil liberties by others.
The goal of the USA PATRIOT (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) Act was to reduce restrictions on government authorities and law enforcement when investigating criminal activity, specifically terrorism. The law was submitted to Congress by the Bush Administration just thirteen days after the tragic 9/11 attacks. This action brought much controversy. Some argued that the passing of the USA PATRIOT Act was being decided on too quickly. On the other hand, supporters stated that the nation needed to take action against terrorists and protect America’s borders from future terrorist attacks immediately. The PATRIOT Act faced popular support in the government, passing with a vote of 98 to 1 in the Senate and 357 to 66 in the House of Representatives. It was officially signed into law on October 26, 2001. The act was set to expire during 2009 when it was renewed and endured slight changes. The act is now set to expire on June 1, 2015. Ever since the PATRIOT Act had been signed into law, it has faced major controversy. It can even be said that it is the most controversial law that is still in effect in modern American society.
There are many reasons why the PATRIOT Act was created and why many still support it.
According to the American Constitution, it is the government’s foremost responsibility to protect the lives and liberties of the American people. If the government simply stands and watches as terrorists bombard America, the United States will be destroyed and the government will prove to be quite useless. The government has to take action against terrorism. One of the ways the government has taken action was by creating the USA PATRIOT Act. The PATRIOT Act has also been proven to be quite effective fighting terrorism. “As of 2004, 357 individuals have been criminally charged in the United States in terror investigations…189 of individuals have been convicted or pled guilty in the United States. Over 515 individuals linked to the September 11th investigation have been removed from the United States.”2 Many terrorist cells have also been discovered and destroyed by the government due to terrorism investigations. Some examples of terrorist cells that have been discovered are the Lackawanna Six terrorist cell in Buffalo and the Portland Seven terrorist cell in Oregon. During both circumstances, the individuals in the terrorist cells went or attempted to head to Afghanistan to join and train with Al Qaeda (a terrorist organization) militants. Due to the PATRIOT Act, law enforcement was able to quickly realize the location and doings of the terrorist cells. And, America was saved from another possible terrorist attack. To add on, millions of dollars that had been destined to fund terrorist organizations have been seized by the government. During 2002, at the Miami International Airport, a man named Libardo Florez Gomez was suspected of laundering around $1.3 million a month to support a Columbian terrorist group known as FARC. Before the passing of the PATRIOT Act, individuals in his circumstance could be cleared of any charges by simply stating that they were unaware of the transfer rules. The PATRIOT Act allowed such individuals to be dealt with more harshly, not accepting such excuses any longer. The PATRIOT Act has also helped solve murder and kidnapping cases. For example, during 2003, an 88- year old woman was kidnapped. Due to the PATRIOT Act, authorities were able to gain access to Internet service providers that eventually helped reveal the location of the woman as well as her kidnapper. Another example is how, during 2002, a 13- year old girl had been kidnapped by a 38- year old man. Using Section 212 of the PATRIOT Act, officials were able to earn vital information from the Internet and were able to rescue the girl and arrest her kidnapper.
Though, there are many positive aspects of the PATRIOT Act, the PATRIOT Act continues to face much opposition against it. When analyzed more closely, it can even be said that the PATRIOT Act takes rights away from American citizens, even though citizens are promised those rights according to the Constitution. For example, Section 213 of the PATRIOT Act states that the government and law enforcement are allowed to search through an individual’s private documents and household without immediately notifying that individual. The PATRIOT Act allows this to be done for terrorist investigations, espionage cases, and minor crimes. However, according to the American Constitution, the government does not have the right to search or seize your property without due process of the law. Secretly searching an individual’s private documents is not due process of the law. That is quickly searching through an individual’s things without their permission. This is unfair for the person being searched, as their private documents may be misinterpreted by the police. Though, the individual may lie if their documents are searched by law enforcement with their permission, law enforcement do practice methods that usually help in the truth eventually being told by the individual being searched. Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act states that law enforcement has the power to investigate American citizens for criminal matters by simply stating that the investigation is for “intelligence purposes”. This makes it much easier for an official to abuse his/ her power. And, as stated before, law enforcement may misinterpret the individual’s private documents. To add on, the PATRIOT Act states, according to Section 218, that when searching through personal records, law enforcement has the right to not be heavily watched by government and judicial officials. This also makes it simpler for law enforcement to abuse its power. Now law enforcement can quickly gain information about an individual by simply stating that they believe that this individual may be a terrorist or has committed some sort of crime. By this, I am saying that details are not necessary. Law enforcement does not have to give a logical reason why a search is being conducted. There have also been many reported cases where individuals were falsely accused of terrorist activity. Some years back, the PATRIOT Act gave law enforcement the right to secretly search the office and home of a man named Brandon Mayfield. Around 335 photographs were taken of happenings within Mayfield’s home. He was soon arrested, convicted as a terrorist, held accountable for a recent terrorism plot, and held in prison for two weeks. Eventually, during Mayfield’s time in prison, serious faults were found in the investigation. He was eventually released. However, if the case had not been further analyzed, Mayfield may have been forced to face a deadly sentence.
Some people believe that the PATRIOT Act has made the United States a much safer place to live in. Others, on the other hand, believe that this act grimly violates the rights of citizens in the United States and freedom, in general. Numbers prove that the PATRIOT Act truly is helping the United States in defeating terrorism. However, the PATRIOT Act also clearly restricts some of our freedoms in certain ways. As American citizens, it all comes down to our choices that shape America’s future. The leaders we elect do not have absolute rule over us. We are allowed to cry foul when we understand that the government is making poor judgment. The government has made mistakes before. As American citizens, it is our job to identify these errors and offer the government suggestions to improve our country. America will one day live its glory days again. We simply need to be patient. If we can all learn to be more open- minded individuals, if God wills, even through all the hate, war and bloodshed spilled, America will walk the road that may finally be able to sow the seeds of compromise and reconciliation.
FOOTNOTES
1- The History Place: Great Speeches Collection. President George W. Bush After September www11th. 20 September 2001. 02 March 2012< http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/gw-bush-www9- g 11.htm>
2- Gerdes, Louise I. The Patriot Act. Detroit, New York, San Francisco, New Haven, Waterville, gggg London, Munich: Thomson Gale, 2005.
The goal of the USA PATRIOT (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) Act was to reduce restrictions on government authorities and law enforcement when investigating criminal activity, specifically terrorism. The law was submitted to Congress by the Bush Administration just thirteen days after the tragic 9/11 attacks. This action brought much controversy. Some argued that the passing of the USA PATRIOT Act was being decided on too quickly. On the other hand, supporters stated that the nation needed to take action against terrorists and protect America’s borders from future terrorist attacks immediately. The PATRIOT Act faced popular support in the government, passing with a vote of 98 to 1 in the Senate and 357 to 66 in the House of Representatives. It was officially signed into law on October 26, 2001. The act was set to expire during 2009 when it was renewed and endured slight changes. The act is now set to expire on June 1, 2015. Ever since the PATRIOT Act had been signed into law, it has faced major controversy. It can even be said that it is the most controversial law that is still in effect in modern American society.
There are many reasons why the PATRIOT Act was created and why many still support it.
According to the American Constitution, it is the government’s foremost responsibility to protect the lives and liberties of the American people. If the government simply stands and watches as terrorists bombard America, the United States will be destroyed and the government will prove to be quite useless. The government has to take action against terrorism. One of the ways the government has taken action was by creating the USA PATRIOT Act. The PATRIOT Act has also been proven to be quite effective fighting terrorism. “As of 2004, 357 individuals have been criminally charged in the United States in terror investigations…189 of individuals have been convicted or pled guilty in the United States. Over 515 individuals linked to the September 11th investigation have been removed from the United States.”2 Many terrorist cells have also been discovered and destroyed by the government due to terrorism investigations. Some examples of terrorist cells that have been discovered are the Lackawanna Six terrorist cell in Buffalo and the Portland Seven terrorist cell in Oregon. During both circumstances, the individuals in the terrorist cells went or attempted to head to Afghanistan to join and train with Al Qaeda (a terrorist organization) militants. Due to the PATRIOT Act, law enforcement was able to quickly realize the location and doings of the terrorist cells. And, America was saved from another possible terrorist attack. To add on, millions of dollars that had been destined to fund terrorist organizations have been seized by the government. During 2002, at the Miami International Airport, a man named Libardo Florez Gomez was suspected of laundering around $1.3 million a month to support a Columbian terrorist group known as FARC. Before the passing of the PATRIOT Act, individuals in his circumstance could be cleared of any charges by simply stating that they were unaware of the transfer rules. The PATRIOT Act allowed such individuals to be dealt with more harshly, not accepting such excuses any longer. The PATRIOT Act has also helped solve murder and kidnapping cases. For example, during 2003, an 88- year old woman was kidnapped. Due to the PATRIOT Act, authorities were able to gain access to Internet service providers that eventually helped reveal the location of the woman as well as her kidnapper. Another example is how, during 2002, a 13- year old girl had been kidnapped by a 38- year old man. Using Section 212 of the PATRIOT Act, officials were able to earn vital information from the Internet and were able to rescue the girl and arrest her kidnapper.
Though, there are many positive aspects of the PATRIOT Act, the PATRIOT Act continues to face much opposition against it. When analyzed more closely, it can even be said that the PATRIOT Act takes rights away from American citizens, even though citizens are promised those rights according to the Constitution. For example, Section 213 of the PATRIOT Act states that the government and law enforcement are allowed to search through an individual’s private documents and household without immediately notifying that individual. The PATRIOT Act allows this to be done for terrorist investigations, espionage cases, and minor crimes. However, according to the American Constitution, the government does not have the right to search or seize your property without due process of the law. Secretly searching an individual’s private documents is not due process of the law. That is quickly searching through an individual’s things without their permission. This is unfair for the person being searched, as their private documents may be misinterpreted by the police. Though, the individual may lie if their documents are searched by law enforcement with their permission, law enforcement do practice methods that usually help in the truth eventually being told by the individual being searched. Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act states that law enforcement has the power to investigate American citizens for criminal matters by simply stating that the investigation is for “intelligence purposes”. This makes it much easier for an official to abuse his/ her power. And, as stated before, law enforcement may misinterpret the individual’s private documents. To add on, the PATRIOT Act states, according to Section 218, that when searching through personal records, law enforcement has the right to not be heavily watched by government and judicial officials. This also makes it simpler for law enforcement to abuse its power. Now law enforcement can quickly gain information about an individual by simply stating that they believe that this individual may be a terrorist or has committed some sort of crime. By this, I am saying that details are not necessary. Law enforcement does not have to give a logical reason why a search is being conducted. There have also been many reported cases where individuals were falsely accused of terrorist activity. Some years back, the PATRIOT Act gave law enforcement the right to secretly search the office and home of a man named Brandon Mayfield. Around 335 photographs were taken of happenings within Mayfield’s home. He was soon arrested, convicted as a terrorist, held accountable for a recent terrorism plot, and held in prison for two weeks. Eventually, during Mayfield’s time in prison, serious faults were found in the investigation. He was eventually released. However, if the case had not been further analyzed, Mayfield may have been forced to face a deadly sentence.
Some people believe that the PATRIOT Act has made the United States a much safer place to live in. Others, on the other hand, believe that this act grimly violates the rights of citizens in the United States and freedom, in general. Numbers prove that the PATRIOT Act truly is helping the United States in defeating terrorism. However, the PATRIOT Act also clearly restricts some of our freedoms in certain ways. As American citizens, it all comes down to our choices that shape America’s future. The leaders we elect do not have absolute rule over us. We are allowed to cry foul when we understand that the government is making poor judgment. The government has made mistakes before. As American citizens, it is our job to identify these errors and offer the government suggestions to improve our country. America will one day live its glory days again. We simply need to be patient. If we can all learn to be more open- minded individuals, if God wills, even through all the hate, war and bloodshed spilled, America will walk the road that may finally be able to sow the seeds of compromise and reconciliation.
FOOTNOTES
1- The History Place: Great Speeches Collection. President George W. Bush After September www11th. 20 September 2001. 02 March 2012< http://www.historyplace.com/speeches/gw-bush-www9- g 11.htm>
2- Gerdes, Louise I. The Patriot Act. Detroit, New York, San Francisco, New Haven, Waterville, gggg London, Munich: Thomson Gale, 2005.
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