Patriot Act Pros And Cons Essay

On June 28th 2015, the U.S Senate failed to reapprove the already expired Patriot Act, resulting in at least a temporary fear of national security. The senate entered into a debate in regards to this expiring act late Sunday night, without coming to a conclusion by midnight the Patriot Act expired, pushing against three laws such as the National Security Agency bulk data collection program. “The lapse was a huge victory for privacy hawks who have called for changes to that program and others under the Patriot Act since Edward Snowden first blew the lid off the NSA's domestic surveillance programs in 2013” (Diamond 1). On the brighter side, the Senate is expecting to restore the Patriot Act during the end of this week. The expiring of the Patriot

The Patriot Act, an act passed by Congress in 2001 that addressed the topic of privacy in terrorist or radical situations, is controversial in today's society. Although it helps with protection against terroristic events, The Patriot Act is not fair, nor is it constitutional, because it allows the government to intrude on citizens' privacy, it gives governmental individuals too much power, and because the act is invasive to the 4th amendment right. To further describe key points in the act, it states that it allows investigators to use the tools that were already available to investigate organized crime and drug trafficking, and it allows law enforcement officials to obtain a search warrant anywhere a terrorist-related activity occurred.

For anyone reading who does not remember the aftermath of 9-11, let me boil it down for you. By playing the terrorism fear card, Hoover’s boys got their wish for expansive powers that circumvented the need for those pesky nuisances known as “warrants”.

This Act may be cited as the "Uniting and Strengthening America Act" by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorism. President Bush signed the Patriot Act on October 29, 2001. It passed and with no debate voted on; many members of congress did not fully read the act. Due to the anthrax scare many Congressman did not have access to their offices. Attorney General John Ashcroft silenced any debate by warning that anyone who contested the Act would be "akin to a traitor abetting the terrorist."(Podesta, 2001) Congress had rejected many of the provisions previously debated. It was a recycled compilation of many extreme "wish lists." In the post 9/11 wake of fear, it became a reality.

On September 11th, 2001 the future of the United States changed forever. With almost 3,000 people dying from a terrorist attack that spanned the Eastern U.S., new tactics had to be created to prevent an event like this from ever happening again. Forty-five days after the attack, the USA Patriot Act was passed (Source 5). While only some Americans approved of it, the act was created to protect from terrorism across the country.

numbers (USA Patriot Act). This was the most significant and controversial provision because it allowed the government to surveil Americans without obtaining a search warrant, infringing on people’s constitutional rights. According to the editors of Gale Encyclopedia of Law, Title III of the Patriot Act was the “International Money Laundering Abatement and Financial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001” (“UNITING AND STRENGTHENING…”). This title prohibited money laundering, which is the concealment of the origin of illegally obtained money (“UNITING AND STRENGTHENING…”). This was significant when it came to prevent terrorists from obtaining money to fuel their attack. In fact, this provision charged 113 people with crimes related to financing terrorists, resulting in 57 convictions or guilty pleas (USA Patriot Act).

On the morning of September 11th, 2001, Islamic extremists carried out the deadliest terrorist attack ever to happen on U.S. soil. Not only did almost 3,000 U.S. citizens die, but fundamental American values were put to the test. In response to this tragedy, the country came together, and President George Bush, also shocked and embittered by this calamity, funneled the resulting patriotism to launch his “War on Terror”. The primary weapon of this war was the 2001 U.S.A Patriot Act (“Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism”). A usually precarious balance the government faced between national security and individual rights was tipped entirely towards national security in the wake of 9/11 and the 2001 Patriot Act was signed into law almost unopposed.

September 11, 2001 sparked many different feelings into the hearts of Americans. People sprang into action to seek revenge and protect America’s precious soils from another deadly attack by reinforcing America’s strength through her government. The men and women of Congress retaliated to the terrorist attacks by drafting and passing the USA PATRIOT Act on October 26, 2001, which stands for “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.” The bill was moved through Congress with amazing speed and little hesitation. After the passing, the unsuspecting citizens of America were bombarded with many new rules and regulations that

     The United States of America is a country that is based upon a principle of balancing the rights of an individual, while still preserving public order. The U.S. Constitution (specifically the Bill of Rights) guarantees every American certain Individual rights. Some of these rights include; freedom from unreasonable search and seizures, a right to due process of law, and protection against cruel and unusual punishment (The 4th, 5th and 8th Amendments). Historically the criminal justice system has preserved these rights of peopled accused of crimes. However on September 11, 2001, the United States became the victim of the largest terrorist attack the World has ever seen. According to Schmalleger in 2003, that

After the devastating attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, this country scrambled to take action to provide future protection. New techniques had to be developed to protect the nation from the menace of terrorism. Along with the new techniques came the decision to enact laws that some believed crossed the threshold of violating civil liberties this county and those living in it were guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. “On October 26, 2001, the Public Law 107-56, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism, also known as the USA Patriot Act, was signed into effect” (Stern, 2004, p. 1112). While speaking to Congress,

Americans had a brutal event to happen on September 11 that lead to the Patriot act. (“Megaessays.com”)The tragic event left Americans freighted of what will happen next. Terriosts attacked the twin towers in New York City leaving the U.S skeptical of why they were being attacked . Yes the U.S is democracy but our founders believed that our liberty was much more important than a government. Today Americans feel as though most of our liberties have been taking away but it is only to protect our country.

On September 11, 2001, the Unites States suffered massive destruction caused by terrorism. Four planes were hijacked by terrorist. Nearly, three thousand lives were lost when two planes crashed into the World Trade Towers, one crashed into the Pentagon, and the final plane crashed in Pennsylvania before it could reach its final destination. An immense fear spread across the country and out of this fear came the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct the Terrorism, also known as the USA Patriot Act.

"We're dealing with terrorists who operate by highly sophisticated methods and technologies, some of which were not even available when our existing laws were written. The bill before me accounts for the new realities and dangers posed by modern terrorists. It will help law enforcement to identify, dismantle, disrupt, and punish terrorists before they strike," (President George W. Bush at signing of Patriot Act, 2001). The terrorists of today cannot be reasoned with. We must do whatever necessary to ensure that there never will be another September 11th. Since the enactment of the Patriot Act, there have not been any major acts of terrorism committed on U.S. soil. If the Act had been established earlier, perhaps the

In advancing the national security of the United States, the USA PATRIOT Act has generated several concerns, largely associated with privacy. While the Act of Congress provides numerous security-related advantages and advancements within the United States, in an effort to combat the rising threats of terrorism, in some cases, the USA PATRIOT Act can inadvertently jeopardize the privacy of United States citizens, in favor of national security. Based on reports by Lauren Pizzo, contributor to the Salem Press Encyclopedia, the USA PATRIOT Act affords select government agencies, such as the FBI, access to a variety of records, pertaining to the individual citizens of the United States (Pizzo, 2016). In fact, one title of the USA PATRIOT Act grants some government agencies, via national security letters, access to telephone, medical, and financial records of citizens, in favor of national security, fueling controversy over citizen privacy within the United States, based on reports by Pizzo (Pizzo, 2016). Also in the interest of national security, portions of the USA PATRIOT Act allow select government or law enforcement agencies to view third-party records pertaining to citizens, where agencies can also search citizen property without notice, based on information provided by Larry Abramson, National Security Correspondent (Abramson, 2006). Furthermore, some titles of the USA PATRIOT Act extend to the digital world, allowing some government or law enforcement agencies to collect

The US PATRIOT Act allows government officials to intercept telephone lines conversations, all type of cellphones communications to include text messages, phone calls, all social media sites, and internet sites visited, as well as materials stored in computers, deleted files, websites accessed, and so forward. It also allows for the monitoring or search of homes, businesses, and other properties. It also allows the apprehension of citizens suspected of sympathizing with or having links to terrorist organizations. Assets can also be ceased from individuals suspected of terrorism against the United States, under the U.S. Patriot Act.