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Mark Castillo

Homeland Security

Dr. Harris

ECPI University

Introduction

The Patriot Act's full title is Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001. The Patriot Act is a U.S. law passed in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Its goals are to strengthen domestic security and broaden the powers of law-enforcement agencies with regards to identifying and stopping terrorists. The passing and renewal of the Patriot Act has been extremely controversial.

Dangers of the patriot act

Six weeks after September 11th, in an incredible show of bi-partisan cooperation, congress signed into law the "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001" (USA Patriot Act). The government now has the authority to invade civil liberties and freedoms of any citizen of the United States of America. Whether someone is intent on bombing a Starbucks, or just a person whose phone is taped and happens to say something that is taken out of context the government can suspend all civil rights and detain them indefinitely without access to legal representation. I feel strongly against this act because I believe this act invades citizens privacy, and our government is wasting time, money and manpower on pointless investigations into subjects who have done nothing wrong.

The act does increase our ability find and prosecute domestic terrorists; however, I also feel that there are just too many people in our country to monitor with any success. While some good has been done by catching criminals, The Patriot act was not intended to catch drug dealers. The act was designed to catch terrorists. Terrorists are defined as "a radical who employs terror as a political weapon; usually organizes with other terrorists in small cells; often uses religion as a cover for terrorist activities" (dictionary.com). While it is certainly true terrorist threats can come from sources both foreign and domestic; the patriot act was intended to combat those who wish to tear Americas society to the ground, rather than those in engaged in less serious criminal acts.

While I absolutely do not support nor tolerate murder, racketeering, drug trafficking, or any other kind of criminal activity, the Patriot Act was not intended to eradicate these types of criminal activities; the patriot act was only design to try to alleviate the terrorist acts or and crimes. Here is when the thin line comes inn, because the Patriot Act gives the Government permission and

access to sneak and peek searches in which agents can enter your home or business and search all your belongings without informing you until long after. Federal agents are authorized to use hidden devices to trace and track telephones calls and emails of anyone, and they dont even have to be a suspect for them to decide to do that and invade anyones privacy.

This is a very sensitive matter to discuss because at the same time that people feel that they most basic right is being violated, this measures are necessary now in days to have an edge over the terrorist and every other group or person that might want or plan to attack someone or something at any time. The problem here is who and how to control this Big Brother power, because is known that the Government has a data base called TIA that links commercial and government databases so that the DOD can immediately put together on any suspicious piece of information that goes through the internet. Every purchase you do online, every bank deposit, medical prescription you fill online, every trip you book is stored in their data bases and analyzed; the Government knows all our movements at all time, even if we dont think is real, someone somewhere is always watching.

Conclusion

In conclusion, The Patriot Act does not just violate the Constitution, but represents the loss of our individual liberties by violating our freedom of speech, information, and expression like it says in the First Amendment and the protection from search and seizure guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment. More serious is that it threatens democracy and gives the FBI uncontrolled power to gain personal information without adequate charges. At the same time is the way that the government has to prevent terrorist attacks or any other threat, the problem is how to dice who and how that power is used and controlled.

References

Katarina Uhalova. (2012). Patriot act vs Constitution. Accent. Retrieved 3/24/2014 from www.keanu.com

Ed Grabianoski. (2013). How the Patriot Act works. How stuff works. Retrieved 3/24/2014 from www.people.howstuffworks.com

Department of Justice. (2001). The USA Patriot Act. Highlights of the Patriot Act. Retrieved 3/24/2014 from department of justice. www. Justice.gov

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