The USA PATRIOT Act “Those that can give up liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety” – Benjamin Franklin

Purposes for the USA PATRIOT Act Expands the searching power of law enforcement agencies to access records (i.e. telephone, , medical, financial records). Increases power of the Secretary of the Treasury to regulate financial transactions.

Purposes for the USA PATRIOT Act Allows for greater leeway of law enforcement and immigration authorities to apprehend and/or deport immigrants suspected of terrorism

Purposes for the USA PATRIOT Act Lastly, and most certainly not least, the USA PATRIOT Act reaches a greater scope for the term “Terrorism” to include any violence or suspicious correspondence whether domestic or abroad, allowing for the possible investigation into virtually anybody living in the U.S.

Don’t Worry, Uncle Sam’s Watching… What it really means to live under the PATRIOT act… - The government can access library or credit records without a warrant.(secs. 126, 128, 129) -- Americans could be wiretapped, searched, or even extradited at the discretion of foreign nations, whether or not treaties allow for it. ( secs. 321,322) --Lawful immigrants could be denied a fair deportation, and federal courts wouldn’t be able to review the immigration rulings.

Don’t Worry Uncle Sam’s Watching… -The government isn’t required to release the identity of any detainees, including American citizens, until criminal charges are filed, regardless of the amount of time that takes, meaning, you could disappear into the hands of your own government and nobody would know (sec. 208). -- Anyone participating in civil disobedience could lose their citizenship, (sec. 501) be subject to wiretaps (secs. 120, 121), or asset seizure (sec. 428). Steven Bierfeldt was detained by TSA officials on March 29, 2009 for possession of some 4,500 dollars cash while attempting to board a domestic flight in St. Louis. Bierfeldt is the Director of Development for the Campaign for the Liberty which was created out of Ron Paul’s presidential campaign. Bierfeldt was detained for questioning whether or not he was required by law to disclose the nature of the cash he was carrying.

What Gives? While the USA PATRIOT Act was founded on the idea it provides for greater safety measures and precautions, stories like Steven Bierfeldt’s prove it has only created superfluous laws that provide for a police state style of governing. Those fascists.

It may be noted that a recent Missouri Department of Public Safety report included Ron Paul supporters and members of Campaign for Liberty on their list of possible domestic terror threats that should be treated with utmost scrutiny.

Be Aware of Your “Rights” While the USA PATRIOT Act has, since the events of September 11, 2001, provided for greater safety measures and precautions against terrorist activities so that such a travesty never happens again, the seemingly unconstitutional nature in which law enforcement agencies enforce these laws has created a shadow police state that infringes on our fourth and fifth amendment rights. A necessary evil? Most certainly, emphasis on the evil. If only these measures were put in place BEFORE the Iraq War.