Patriot Act Pros And Cons

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After Sept. 11, 2001, the federal government decided that restrictions on law enforcement in the United States, especially restrictions on domestic spying, had gone too far following the turbulent 1960s and '70s. President Bush and members of his administration said that the terrorist attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. proved that the United States was ill- prepared to cope with terrorist threats within the country. The USA Patriot Act was signed into law on Oct. 26, 2001, citing the need for more cooperation among all levels of security, along with broader powers for law enforcement personnel. Police and other departments were given wider preemptive authority and encouraged to share information. The goal: …show more content…
Many provisions of the Patriot Act were due to expire at the end of this year, and President
Bush pushed hard to get them renewed before January. But some congressional leaders, concerned about civil liberties being stripped by the act, refused, pushing instead for a limited extension while those problems are addressed. The U.S. Congress reached a last-minute compromise in late December to extend the Patriot Act for five weeks while lawmakers work out their disagreements. The Patriot Act has 16 provisions that give the government extensive surveillance and legal powers to use against suspected terrorists. They range from the authority to intercept electronic communication to the ability of law enforcement agencies to delay notice of the execution of a warrant. In other words, under special circumstances, suspected terrorists may be subject to searches without ever being notified. Proponents of the act suggest that its provisions are ensuring a safer United States. They say citizens should remain focused on the issue of safety, the central point of the Patriot