The First Step to the Fight Against Terrorism

In response to September 11, congress passed the USA Patriot Act which, by creating new laws, increased the goverments' power of surveillance, in the hope to aid in the prevention of future terrorist attacks. The ACLU believes that the USA Patriot Act challenges the law when it come to the protection of privacy for Americans, however, the USA Patriot Act instead, ensures the safety of the American people; and although it was one of the quickest pieces of legislation to be passed, it was an effort to counter terrorism.

Something needed to be done quickly and immediately to, once again, secure our nations safety. In "Surveillance under the USA Patriot Act", the ACLU states, "Neither discussion nor amendments were permitted, and once again members barely had time to read the thick bill before they were foreced to cast an up or down vote on it." The ACLU gives us the impression that the act was passed too quickly, and that there wasn't enough time to sit and deliberate the contents of the bill. America was susceptible to attack at any time, especially with the goverments' lack of knowlege in the prior acts of terrorism. According to "The USA PATRIOT Act: Preserving Life and Liberty", "Congress enacted the Patriot Act by over whelming, bipartisan margins, [...] by the senate 98-1, and 357-66 in the house, with the support of members from across the political spectrum." Further attacks needed to be prevented, so congress responded. This was the first step in the fight against terrorism.

The USA Patriot Act enhanced the authority in goverment surveillance powers, something they've already possessed, but furthermore allowed them to track communications and gather information for law enforcement purposes through reason of suspicion, and without notice or consent. The ACLU in "Surveillance under the USA PATRIOT Act" points out that "The FBI does not even have to sgow a reasonable suspicion that the records are related to criminal activity, much less the requirement for "probable cause" that is listed in the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. [....] the subjects of surveillance never even find out that their personal records have been examined by the goverment." The ACLU feels as if certain rights are violated because the secrecy of an individials information can be viewed, and more drastically, without consent. The attack was carried out in American