The United States is a country that prides itself in individual rights and freedoms. But when they are sacrificed or restricted for a sense of safety from terror, are we really exercising those freedoms or just giving the government more power to tell us what we need and allowing them the tools to deal with those issues. This is a question that can be debated on both sides, with no clear answer. Nevertheless it is an important question that needs to be addressed, because if it is true we may no longer be individuals, but “free” citizens under the watchful eye of authority.

The USA Patriot Act, which stands for the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, introduced many new legislative changes largely effecting people’s privacy. It greatly increased the surveillance and investigational power of all law enforcement agencies in the United States. However this act did not account for the system of checks and balances set up in this democracy that has always defended civil liberties in the face of legislation such as this act. Passed just six weeks after the September

The United States Patriot Act is performing two functions. It gives the United States government power to combat terrorism while keeping down anyone who stands up to the government and speaks out, as we have the freedom to do so under the United States Constitution. While it may be easier to deal with preventing terrorism because of the Patriot Act, it is unconstitutional. The rights and freedoms entitled to people under the Constitution are being sacrificed to combat terror and anyone speaking out about the government.

Before the patriot act was passed into law, “authorities could examine library records only after proving in open court that there was probable cause to suspect that a crime had been committed,” says Michele Orecklin, reporter for TIME magazine. “Now the government needs only to convince a secret court that looking at book-borrowing histories or library internet usage is relevant to an ongoing terrorist investigation, whether or not a crime has been committed.”

Several hundred, and perhaps more, people have been secretly detained by the government since September 11th 2001. This raises questions about depriving people of fundamental civil liberties including imprisonment without probable cause, interference with the right to counsel and threats of bodily injury. The policy of arresting people and taking them to be detained without access to lawyers and court appearances in unprecedented in the United States. Is this necessary in preventing terror? Under the Patriot Act these actions are completely legal.

It appears that there are two clear sides to this issue. First, is that as an American citizen we have the right to understand that it is the government’s duty to protect the people they represent and look out for their best interests. Perhaps this is just the line where the controversy ends; that the government and this legislation are doing just that. In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, security has been vastly stepped up in addition to safety precautions. (A large scale “dirty bomb” attack and response simulation took place last week and involved people from Seattle to Chicago.) America feels the need to protect itself from any other possible attack against our homeland. The content of the Patriot Act and its legislative changes may be just another step in ensuring the safety of the American people. By allowing our government and law enforcement agencies more freedoms and tools to prevent terror, Americans have a sense of security. Acting Assistant Attorney General Jamie Brown stated in a report that anti- terrorism measures enacted after Sept. 11, including the USA Patriot Act and new prosecution guidelines from Attorney General John Ashcroft, have played an extremely important role in disrupting

Some topics in this essay:
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