The Patriot Act: Agree or Disagree Amanda Collier ENG/215 August 27, 2012 Bruce Massis The Patriot Act: Agree or Disagree President George W. Bush signed into law on October 26, 2001 The USA PATRIOT Act. The title of the Act is a letter acronym: Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (PUBLIC LAW 107–56—OCT. 26, 2001) This Act was written to prevent and punish terrorist acts here in the United States as well as around the world, to help law officers, and to strengthen U.S. measures. Three essays have been studied on this subject, (U.S. Patriot Act – Damian Coles, and The Patriot Act: Wise beyond Its Years – John Ashcroft, and Cassady Pitt - U.S. …show more content…
At times they were even using live feeds on their webcams so others could see it in real time. With the Patriot Act the subpoenas were obtained quickly and so the enforcers could get the information from the Internet providers. About 20 were convicted and more than 100 children were saved from harm just in the first few months. Another advantage of the Act is that now communication between government agencies is much better. Prior to this they infrequently shared information from investigations; information is helping each agency better to catch the offenders. To better protect the people of the United States not only from terrorist who try to attack us but also other criminals. Some of the public has expressed support for the Act in opinion polls. Americans and their communities are safer because of the tools that the Patriot Act allows the lionhearted women and men who keep us safe everyday defending our liberties and lives. In Closing, even though the privacy that is given to us through the Bill of Rights could be invaded; it is great for our country because this helps law enforcement have more resources and more freedom to help citizens. References Cassady Pitt. U.S. Patriot Act racial profiling: Are there consequences of discrimination? Bowling Green State University Michigan Sociological Review Vol. 25 FALL 2011 Damian Coles. U.S. Patriot Act AJS/522 June 14, 2012 FinCEN:
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.
Several weeks after the horrible terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act was rushed through Congress by Attorney General, John Ashcroft. This particular Act, however, was established with a ruling hand of fear. Life for Americans changed dramatically in those immediate days, weeks, and months after the attack. America had been spoiled with luxury for so long, that the illusion of control had ingrained itself into our very nature as Americans. That act of terror, on September 11, 2001, brought that belief crashing down, almost immediately. Fear and anger were rampant though out America; a dangerous
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.
However, the positives of this government action outweigh the negatives greatly. People are safer because of the Patriot Act, but there’s always a downside. People have a great way of looking at the negatives and not being able to see that this is for the greater good. Personal security is not very personal anymore, as the police can look at what you do online openly, without a warrant. But, if you’re not doing anything wrong, then you have nothing to worry about.
in Hulse). On October 23, 2001, Representative F. James Sensenbrenner from the ninth district of Wisconsin introduced the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 to Congress (“Bill”). The bill contained many surveillance provisions that the Justice Department had submitted to Congress in the past (“Seeking”). The Bush administration used this time to bully Congress into passing the USA PATRIOT Act. The administration insinuated that any future attacks were going to be blamed on members of Congress who stood against the bill (“Surveillance”).Unfortunately, many members of Congress panicked under the pressure of the circumstances and voted in favor of this unconstitutional bill. Despite the facts that the act had minimal discussion or debate and contained many provisions that attacked the rights of citizens, the complex, 342 page bill passed with a vote of ninety-eight to one in the Senate and 356 to sixty-six in the House of Representatives (Cornehls 78). On October 26, 2001, just forty-five days after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 became Public Law Number 107-56 with the signature of former President George W. Bush (“Bill”).
A. Thesis: The Patriot Act is violating American’s right to privacy. Mainly, the right to hold a private phone conversation.
The patriot act will also benefit the young children of America. The patriot act will help monitor the 800,000 sexual predators in the world that use technology to reach out to children. The government will be able to find a predator if a child has been bothered. Kidnappings need this act because being able to tap into phone and look at report from the past will make it easier to find a missing child. Lastly, when a disturbing phone call is made this act is going to be able to find out who made the call.
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
Congress ushered in the Patriot Act by arming law enforcement with new tools to detect and prevent terrorism by expanding federal officials’ powers to keep tabs on our personal information, from credit card use to cell phone calls to car travel. It allows investigators to use the tools that were
The United States government changed the face of computer and internet use when it signed the USA Patriot Act on October 26, 2001. This act was created in the wake of the terrorist attacks in New York City on September 11 that same year. Many people believe that this act is a good thing and will help in defense against any future attacks. What most people do not know, however, is the effect of this act on the more general public. This includes individual people, public libraries, colleges and universities, and even trucking or hauling companies.
In the years since the passing of the Patriot Act, there has been much controversy and debate regarding the positive and negative advantages, and consequences of this bill. As a member of the law enforcement community I have experienced firsthand some of the changes the Patriot Act has brought upon this nation. A result of this experience along with information obtained in the studying of this act and
The Patriot Act was signed into law on October 26, 2001 by President George W. Bush. The act expanded the surveillance capability of both domestic law enforcement and international intelligence agencies. When this law was passed it was under the assumption “to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes” (The USA Patriot). The Patriot Act has given the government the power to spy on the average American through monitoring phone records and calls, gaining banking and credit information, and even track a person’s internet activity. This is an unbelievable amount of power intelligence agencies wield all under the umbrella of national security. This power has gone too far, is unjustified, unconstitutional, and infringes on the privacy of the
There are people who agree with the Patriot Act. For instance, it makes sure that bad people have none intentions to crash another plane into a building. Another some people might feel anger towards them they get what they deserve. Well many people seem to disagree with the Patriot Act that it is an abuse of power. For example, there was a time you were free to visit Canada with no hesitation you must bring your paperwork to leave and come back. They think that everybody is a bad guy. Another example is the airport about the procedure you must take to fly out and your family cannot see you go off anymore. If you also disagree with the Patriot Act because you might have something to like hide. For instance, if you bring any form of weapons in your luggage before you fly out there might be problems for you. “The five key points it gives is that it protects civil liberties and provides for the common defense, it expectation of privacy is not unlimited, the law provides significant safeguards, it also passed constitutional muster, and lastly the disagreements over the role by the government are different in terms of abuse of power” (McNeill, J. (2011, February 10). “It also goes against the reauthorize the Patriot Act sunset provisions, it also seek permanent reauthorization, and resist initiatives to erode key provisions” McNeill, J. (2011, February
Public Law 107-56 otherwise known as the USA PATRIOT Act was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001. USA PATRIOT Act is an acronym which stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act. (justice.gov) This law was instated in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The Islamic terrorist group known as Al-Qaeda, coordinated four different plane hijackings killing 2,996 people, and injuring 6,000+ others. (9/11 memorial.org) Just weeks after the attacks congress rushed to pass this bill, passing the senate 98 to 1, and the house 357 to 66 (justice.gov), so that we can have more security controls within the United States. It gives the United States government the same powers and tools used to investigate organized crime and drug trafficking in decades prior, to investigate current suspected terrorist. The Patriot act has several different titles that cover different grounds, all which have the same purpose of preventing future acts of terrorism. The patriot act allows the government to track and intercept any form of electronic communications of suspected terrorist in order to prevent any acts of terror, and also for intelligence gathering. The act also aids the government in securing borders, and removing those that are here with the intent to cause harm.
One of the most controversial issues to come forth from the post 9/11 era is the Patriot Act. This is a law that was passed by congress to help the intelligence agencies and the executive branch succeed in their counter terrorism efforts. Also, "To deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools and other reasons(Patriot Act)."