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Patriot Act

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George Moon

Published: January 6, 2008

The Patriot Act was not intended to circumvent basic civil rights. The purpose of the Patriot Act is to better assist U.S. law enforcement in fighting terrorism here in the United States and abroad.

Remember Sept.11? The initial act was voted for by the Senate 98 to 1, one of the few decisions agreed upon by both Republicans and Democrats. The act breaks down the barrier between the CIA and FBI so they can share information about terrorists. Perhaps had that been done earlier, we would have avoided the Sept.11 attack and saved 3,000 innocent American lives.

Many of the objections regarding the Patriot Act are actually allowed under previous and existing law, i.e., tools already used against drug dealers and other criminals. The act basically expanded them to cover terrorism and accordingly, made our nation safer.

The act contains significant civil liberties provisions as well as constitutional safeguards and without question is vital in winning the war on terror. There are those that fear the Patriot Act and come out against it ( primarily the ACLU and some on the left) but to my knowledge no citizen has had his rights violated.

When Benjamin Franklin said, "Any society which would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." he was referring to England and the American colonies. Had Franklin been around on Sept.11, when America was attacked, I'm confident he would have stood in the long line and voted for the Patriot Act.

George Moon
Lake Placid

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