The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and the resulting deaths of 3,000 innocent Americans immediately changed the face of the United States, its government and its people forever.
Shortly after the first strike, the Bush administration took the first steps in fighting the “war on terrorism” with the signing of the USA Patriot Act. step back to create a safer and more secure country, The law gave new powers to domestic law and international intelligence agencies. to investigate the terror.
However, many citizens Unitales found the proposal illegal, saying that it contradicted several provisions of some civilians. liberties and legal rights. While the debate continues today, the government of the United States continues to fight to protect the rights of the country. and the liberties of citizens.
When the United States recovered from the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Congress quickly passed on the USA. Homeland Act of October 26, 2001. The bill, which means “uniting and strengthening America by providing appropriate tools to intercept and stop terrorism,” is primarily aimed at detecting and preventing further terrorist attacks.
United States Senators passed the bill 97-1 while the House of Representatives approved it 309-118. This test comes with many supporters having no election meetings or not having read all the provisions and procedures described in the 342 page document.
In the text, the USA Patriot Act changed over fifteen statutes, offering some analysis and explanation of online activity and surveillance. Other sections discussed in the bill include such crimes as money laundering and illegal immigration.
The passage of the USA Patriot Act, in addition to the 1996 signature of the Clinton administration’s anti-terrorism bill, expanded the investigative and legislative powers of the US government.
Before either law, Congress passed the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, making it acceptable to wiretap citizens without the approval of a secret court along with classified information.
Work to rebuild the country and reduce the “war on terrorism” and the USA Patriot Act gave federal police greater authority to search and intercept terrorist communications.
Under the 2001 law, new crimes, penalties and procedures were created for domestic and international terrorists. For example, the federal government now has the right to examine any person’s medical, educational, and financial history.
In addition to this provision, the police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) can obtain warrants for abusive searches in homes and to lead citizens of the United States at any time into the services of the United States. These authorities have the right to secretly publish any possessions, books, maps, papers, documents, etc., without probable cause or prior notification.
In fact, federal agents raided group libraries and bookstores to secretly spy on patrons reading books. Previously, library records could only be obtained through grand juries dealing with a particular criminal investigation. But now, libraries can’t even disclose any information to their patrons about receiving FBI requests.
In addition, federal officials can “explore email addresses, ring phones, monitor internet activities, deport aliens secretly, and curtail judicial oversight.” and they deny due process.” These bold decisions by the federal government condemned many citizens and civil liberties groups to the end of the bill.
Over the years, many critics have denounced the provisions of the USA Patriot Act as removing certain civil liberties and human rights along with the system’s checks and balances. With the federal government conducting secretive and illegal investigations and wiretapping on innocent people, the executive branch could expand its power far beyond the legislature and judiciary.
However, this lack of privacy for online social communications and property directly violates the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which states. Federal authorities must have probable cause to conduct a search and seizure.
The federal government nevertheless prohibits even discussing these investigations, which violate the rights defined in computer fraud, adding samples to DNA databases for all criminals and using wiretape for suspected violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
In addition to these new federal powers, the USA Patriot Act still covers a significant number of crimes that have had some connection to terrorist organizations. Many opponents of the bill therefore persisted in the belief that the USA Patriot Act was ineffective and would create more harm than good for the United States and its people.
On the other hand, to supporters of the bill, the USA Patriot Act seems to be a reasonable and appropriate solution to “prevent the war on terrorism.” While many opponents argued that the bill’s passage was rushed in a matter of weeks, the more efficient USA Patriot Act was passed at a time when emergency plans were desperately needed.
Under the George W. Bush administration, former Attorney General John Ashcroft led the campaign in support of the bill, strongly asserting that the USA Patriot Act struck a fair balance between guaranteeing civil liberties and protecting Americans from terrorism alone.
Other supporters have argued in the past that the bill protects citizens’ civil liberties by providing a second layer of support for the United States. City. With more than 260 suspected terrorists facing charges under the bill, some say United States; the war on terrorism and the republic is now safer without citizens sacrificing their civil liberties.
Others in defense of the bill believe that American citizens will not be seriously affected by the provisions of the Patriot Act in the USA – mainly because the suspected terrorists are illegal immigrants who have been guilty of major crimes, such as money laundering or drug trafficking.
But while many critics believe that the provisions eliminate a system of checks and balances, the USA Patriot Act states that judicial orders must still be obtained through the rule of law.
As the debate continues today, supporters are confident the USA Patriot Act will pose no threat to everyday, legal citizens United States that the bill closely targets individuals involved in significant crimes of money laundering, immigration and medicine. For this reason, American citizens, in their minds, should have no reason to hide their possessions and files from the federal government if they are legally required to do so.
Since its creation more than two years ago, the USA Patriot Act has been the subject of heated and controversial debate in America. While many citizens and critics question its validity, others firmly believe that signing the bill was a necessary emergency action by the Bush Administration.
However, many today ask why citizens of the United States should obtain their civil liberties and human rights. the country and the fight against terrorism.
With or without the USA Act, they argue that the United States and its citizens will never be completely safe and secure from the threats of terrorist terrorism. At any time, the United States and its people are inescapably under threat of terrorism and crime from foreign nations and terrorist organizations crime. /a>.
When the bombers are terrorists, willing to sacrifice their lives to obliterate the US state, the likelihood that the federal authorities can track down any terrorist threat before it happens – even with advanced technology – is very slim. So while the country seems to be safer than before now, the developed terrorist plots seem safer and shaped for the future. .
Therefore, as issues of terrorism continue to plague the United States, the civil liberties and human rights of citizens cannot be afforded and ultimately removed from their lives. It is important that the checks and balances are restored so that equal power is restored to each type of government.
For these reasons, the United States will work unanimously to achieve a healthier balance between protecting the country from harm and preserving the liberties and privations of its citizens.
There is no doubt that the terrible events of September 2001 will forever shock the world, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of each and every American citizen. In a time of desperation, Congress passed the USA Patriot Act to curb and prevent further terrorism from affecting the nation.
Although many advocates claim that the bill is legitimate, there are complaints from the public that civil liberties and human rights have been taken away as the government’s increased measures of questioning have increased.
However, hope remains with many that the federal government will finally pass the USA Patriot Act to protect the United States from terrorist attacks while allowing the precious civil liberties and human rights of citizens to be recognized and respected.
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