The USA PATRIOT Act provides a textbook example of how the United States federal government expands its power. An emergency happens, legitimate or otherwise. The media, playing its dutiful role as goad for greater government oversight, demands "something must be done." Government power is massively expanded, with little regard for whether or not what is being done is efficacious, to say nothing of the overall impact on our nation's civil liberties.

No goals are posted, because if targets are hit, this would necessitate the ending or scaling back of the program. Instead, the program becomes normalized. There are no questions asked about whether the program is accomplishing what it set out to do. It is now simply a part of American life and there is no going back.

The American public largely accepts the USA PATRIOT Act as a part of civic life as immutable, perhaps even more so than the Bill of Rights. However, this act – passed in the dead of night, with little to no oversight, in a panic after the biggest attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor – is not only novel, it is also fundamentally opposed to virtually every principle on which the United States of America was founded. It might not be going anywhere anytime soon, but patriots, liberty lovers and defenders of Constitutional government should nonetheless familiarize themselves with the onerous provisions of this law, which is nothing short of a full-throttle attack on the American republic.

Continue reading The USA PATRIOT Act: The Story of an Impulsive Bill that Eviscerated America's Civil Liberties at Ammo.com.

I understand why the Patriot Act was enacted after 9/11 but, I have to agree that it strips away American citizens civil liberties.

Several years ago, I mentored a kid. His Mother would not open a savings account for him so I figured that I would. My hope was that he would learn how to save, how to handle money and how to use a bank. Unfortunately the bank would not let me open a savings account for him because I was not a "legal parent or guardian". The Bank cited the Patriot Act as the reason for my not being allowed. The end result was that he grew up, doesn't trust banks now and habitually has no common sense with nor about money.

No, I'm not a big supporter of the Patriot Act...

The Patriot Act is a contradiction of terms because no True American Patriot is in support of it. It has unconstitutionally violated the Fourth Amendment, among other violations, for far too long and needs to be repealed in its entirety. I understand that people we shocked by 9/11 and thought they needed to do something but that act was the exact opposite of what should have been done. We should have protected our rights not violated them.

Quote from: Centinel on November 08, 2020, 07:35:49 PM
The Patriot Act is a contradiction of terms because no True American Patriot is in support of it. It has unconstitutionally violated the Fourth Amendment, among other violations, for far too long and needs to be repealed in its entirety. I understand that people we shocked by 9/11 and thought they needed to do something but that act was the exact opposite of what should have been done. We should have protected our rights not violated them.

Yep, Bush said, hey Cheney, lets open the Box just a little bit, Clinton got to, won't hurt....But sir, that's Pandora's Box!
Just a peek?
The rest is history, the Marxist Dims had their hands on the box and let run wild. Nothing like chipping away at our Rights from the center out.
I agree, every bit of it should be shit canned and people go back to taking responsibility for themselves and their fellow man!

Quote from: Centinel on November 08, 2020, 07:35:49 PM
The Patriot Act is a contradiction of terms because no True American Patriot is in support of it. It has unconstitutionally violated the Fourth Amendment, among other violations, for far too long and needs to be repealed in its entirety. I understand that people we shocked by 9/11 and thought they needed to do something but that act was the exact opposite of what should have been done. We should have protected our rights not violated them.

You are exactly correct! It is the same nonsense that Democrats espouse when they talk of banning firearms. In this day and age of lawlessness, riots, disrespecting of law enforcement, criminalization of victims and blatant disregard of the rule of law, we NEED to be able to protect ourselves and our families!

I am never a fan of "emergency measures" or other acts that take place immediately following some event as they are usually not all that well thought through and there is nothing more permanent than a temporary government action. Adding sunset provisions to many laws would be a smart idea to prevent, or at least allow for the option because I can easily see congress simply voting for an extension to avoid a debate, a bad law from staying on the books perpetually.

Quote from: Centinel on November 11, 2020, 11:28:58 AM
I am never a fan of "emergency measures" or other acts that take place immediately following some event as they are usually not all that well thought through and there is nothing more permanent than a temporary government action. Adding sunset provisions to many laws would be a smart idea to prevent, or at least allow for the option because I can easily see congress simply voting for an extension to avoid a debate, a bad law from staying on the books perpetually.

I agree with you. One example is an "emergency tax" that never quite goes away. The "Obamacare" nonsense is another example.