The Patriot Act

WASHINGTON -- Just hours after explosions created fresh terrorist concerns in London, the House began debate Thursday on an extension of the USA Patriot Act, the premier American anti-terrorism tool.

The bill called for making permanent 14 of 16 provisions of the original law, passed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and scheduled to expire at the end of this year. It also gave a 10-year extension to two provisions -- one allowing roving wiretaps and another allowing searches of library and medical records -- that triggered passionate arguments between Democrats and Republicans.

"This is the single most important vote that Congress will cast to keep America safe during 2005," Republican Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said during a news conference to preview the debate.

The Patriot Act moved forward in the Senate as well, as the Judiciary Committee unanimously approved changes Thursday and sent the measure to the floor for a vote. The changes, agreed to after all-night negotiations, include a provision that requires law enforcement to report within seven days of a search warrant being granted whether there is enough evidence to justify the search.

The panel also deleted a provision requiring law enforcement agencies to report on wiretaps in a way they found onerous.

A competing bill also has been approved by the Senate Intelligence Committee, which would give the FBI expanded powers to subpoena records without the approval of a judge or grand jury. That ensures further Senate talks on the terrorism-fighting measure.

While civil libertarians have expressed concern about the original law, passed by Congress just 45 days after the Sept. 11 attacks, congressional and Justice Department advocates argue it has accelerated the pursuit and prosecution of suspected terrorists by breaking down barriers between law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

...President Bush has lobbied to make the entire Patriot Act permanent. On Wednesday, against a backdrop of shipping containers at the Port of Baltimore, he said: "As we saw in London, the terrorists are still active and they are still plotting to take innocent life. So my message to the Congress is clear: This is no time to let our guard down, and no time to roll back good laws. The Patriot Act is expected to expire, but the terrorist threats will not expire."

I do not think now is the time to be weakening the Patriot Act.

It's a tough sell when that suggestion is juxtaposed with the images coming out of London today.

The Patriot Act does not threaten our civil liberties. Terrorists do.

Have you been stripped of any freedoms as a result of the act? Has your privacy been invaded?

My life hasn't changed. I don't feel that I've relinquished any of my rights. To my knowledge, no crazed government agent is monitoring my library activities.

I do know that we have not had ANY terrorist attacks on our soil since 9/11/01.

"We've not had a major terrorist attack in this country, in part because of efforts that were made to collect evidence under the Patriot Act," Sensenbrenner said. "And no part of the expanded law enforcement provisions contained in the Patriot Act have been held unconstitutional by a federal court."

I think calls to amend the Patriot Act and weaken our ability to protect ourselves from terrorists are misguided, irresponsible, and reckless.

Why would we let down our guard?

The act has not been used by the government to harass and abuse Americans. There hasn't been a single instance of anyone's liberties being diminished because of it. It's been effectively utilized in the effort to keep us safe.

Take a look at London.

Do you think we should be weakening the powers that authorities have to fight terror here at home?

Shouldn't we do all we can to foil the plots of terrorists who are intent on murdering and maiming us?


Do you personally know anyone who's been mistreated because of provisions of the act?

Bottom line, I think weakening the Patriot Act could prove to be a deadly mistake.