The Patriot Act: Hunting Terrorists or Civil Liberties Essay

One of the most controversial issues to come forth from the post 9/11 era is the Patriot Act. This is a law that was passed by congress to help the intelligence agencies and the executive branch succeed in their counter terrorism efforts. Also, "To deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools and other reasons(Patriot Act)."

(6) Any investigative or law enforcement officer, or attorney for the Government, who by any means authorized by this chapter, has obtained knowledge of the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication, or evidence derived there from, may disclose such contents to any other Federal Law Enforcement , intelligence, protective, immigration, national defense, or national security official to the extent that such contents include foreign intelligence information, to assist the official who is to receive that information in the performance of his duties.? This allows for a better sharing of information among the different division of federal, state and local law enforcement nationwide. In a large scale criminal investigation, proper communication and information sharing is vital. This act has allowed information to be disseminated to law enforcement agencies throughout the country, so they can effectively work together towards the goal of arresting terrorists, and preventing another terrorist attack. Another section of the USA PATRIOT ACT that Schmalleger (2003) quotes is Sec. 213. Authority for Delaying notice of the Execution of a Warrant. ?With respect to the issuance of any warrant or court order under this section, or any other rule of law, to search for and seize any property or material that constitutes evidence of a criminal offense in violation of the laws of the United States, any notice required,

On September 11th, 2001 the future of the United States changed forever. With almost 3,000 people dying from a terrorist attack that spanned the Eastern U.S., new tactics had to be created to prevent an event like this from ever happening again. Forty-five days after the attack, the USA Patriot Act was passed (Source 5). While only some Americans approved of it, the act was created to protect from terrorism across the country.

After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001 the United States became a very different place. This drastic change was caused by the initial emotional reactions that American citizens, as well as government leaders had towards the tragic event. The government, in an effort to assure that these events never happen again passed the USA PATRIOT Act, which is an acronym that stands for the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act. The major goal of this act is to combat terrorism by giving the government more leeway in what areas they are allowed to use their surveillance tools and also to what circumstances these tools can be used. The major issue that arise with this act are the fact that many of the act can be seen as unconstitutional.

In the years since the passing of the Patriot Act, there has been much controversy and debate regarding the positive and negative advantages, and consequences of this bill. As a member of the law enforcement community I have experienced firsthand some of the changes the Patriot Act has brought upon this nation. A result of this experience along with information obtained in the studying of this act and

On September 11, 2001 the United States was attacked by a terrorist group on our own soil. On October 26, 2011 the US Government signed into law the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA Patriot Act). Only one and a half months after we were attacked physically by a terrorist group, our government decided that we would be better off with a lot less freedom in order to better protect America from terrorist attacks in the future. Although this seemed like an obvious need in 2001, now almost ten years later there is little evidence supporting a need for such an Act. The bottom line is that the Patriot Act allows the US

The basis of the USA Patriot Act (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept

September 11, 2001 sparked many different feelings into the hearts of Americans. People sprang into action to seek revenge and protect America’s precious soils from another deadly attack by reinforcing America’s strength through her government. The men and women of Congress retaliated to the terrorist attacks by drafting and passing the USA PATRIOT Act on October 26, 2001, which stands for “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism.” The bill was moved through Congress with amazing speed and little hesitation. After the passing, the unsuspecting citizens of America were bombarded with many new rules and regulations that

Recognizing the threat Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups posed provided homeland security with the basis which is now important to state and local law enforcement agencies (Sheehan, Michael, 2011). After nearly a decade after the September eleventh, more than twenty terrorist related plots were uncovered by the federal government. As the war against terrorism continues, it has cost America the lives of more than six thousand service members and nearly 1.5 trillion dollars (Ortmeier, P, 2009).

The Patriot Act, an act passed by Congress in 2001 that addressed the topic of privacy in terrorist or radical situations, is controversial in today's society. Although it helps with protection against terroristic events, The Patriot Act is not fair, nor is it constitutional, because it allows the government to intrude on citizens' privacy, it gives governmental individuals too much power, and because the act is invasive to the 4th amendment right. To further describe key points in the act, it states that it allows investigators to use the tools that were already available to investigate organized crime and drug trafficking, and it allows law enforcement officials to obtain a search warrant anywhere a terrorist-related activity occurred.

On the recovery from the 9/11 attacks, the act institutes a new authority that America had not seen before. The act is all about the prevention of attacks not reacting to them. In addition, it has done more; broadening its influence to almost all crime, it convicts not only terrorists, but also drug lords, cyber attackers, and even thefts. The act also implemented a new and more efficient way of investigation and conviction. The PATRIOT Act is protecting what it means to be American. In the wise words of George Washington, "To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving

The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, better known as the USA PATRIOT Act, or simply the PATRIOT Act was introduced on October 24, 2001, only 45 days after the devastating terrorists attacks of 9/11. It passed nearly unanimously, with only one person total in both the House or Representatives and the Senate voting against it. This law has many aspects, but perhaps the most controversial is the authorization of surveillance procedures, and the legitimacy of these provisions in regards to the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The following is an examination of the moral and homeland security implications this Act has on the American people and the

The Patriot Act expands the "pen register" statute to include electronic communications and Internet usage, which was previously limited to tracing of telephone numbers called by suspect criminals (Olsen, 2001). In addition, this act allows the government to obtain warrants to examine what people read in libraries and bookstores from records on what a person checks out or buys. Moreover, the law allows the government to detain or deport suspects of terrorism as well as monitor financial transcripts and electronic records. Recently, the federal court ruled to expand the use of wiretaps and other surveillance techniques in tracking suspected terrorists under the Patriot Act. The main part of the ruling is removing previously existing legal barriers between the FBI and the Justice Department investigators, prosecutors and law enforcement personnel (Fox, November 2002).

This paper is on the terrorist group Al-Qaeda and the US Patriot Act. This paper will discuss the history, ideology, structure, targets and tactics of Al-Qaeda. I will discuss the history and goals of the US Patriot Act as well as the controversy that surrounds it. Finally I will discuss how the US Patriot Act serves as a deterrent to Al-Qaeda by enhancing domestic security against terrorism, enhancing surveillance procedures and removing obstacles to investigate terrorism. I hope that after you complete your review of my paper that you will have an appreciation for the creation of the US Patriot Act, because it protects Americans by making it difficult for terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda to operate in the United States.

Thus the immediate federal response to the World Trade Center attack by some terrorist group was the passage of the Patriot Act which included the following elements with some to strengthen domestic security and some with ethical issues. The first section pertains to the country’s protection of civil liberties, authorizes federal money to accomplish much of the act 's provisions, allows the Secret Service to create a nationwide electronic crime task force. The president can confiscate the property of any foreign person who is believed to have aided in a war or attack on the United States. The act gives the ability to law-enforcement agencies to conduct surveillance on "agents of foreign powers. intercept communications related to terrorist activities, allows law-enforcement agencies to share information in terrorist activities with federal authorities, authorizes roving surveillance by