Summary
Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act (the Act) in response to the terrorists’ attacks of September 11, 2001. The Act gives federal officials greater authority to track and intercept communications, both for law enforcement and foreign intelligence gathering purposes. It vests the Secretary of the Treasury with regulatory powers to combat corruption of U.S. financial institutions for foreign money laundering purposes. It seeks to further close our borders to foreign terrorists and to detain and remove those within our borders. It creates new crimes, new penalties, and new procedural efficiencies for use against domestic and international terrorists.
Although it is not without safeguards, critics contend some of its provisions go too far. Although it grants many of the enhancements sought by the Department of Justice, others are concerned that it does not go far enough.
What is the Patriot Act?
The Patriot Act stands for Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism. It was written in 2001, and it makes reforms to previously written law, both foreign and domestic, known as code. It was implemented in order to combat terrorism, but it has more far-reaching effects. The Patriot Act has also been used to convict delinquent parents and child molesters, among others.
Discussion
I am an American. As such, I have certain rights afforded me by the Constitution of the United States of America; however, in a post 9/11 America, the very government that gave me those rights has attacked them. The Constitution’s First, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendments give me the following rights:
“Amendment One: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances...................
