Do you feel safe from terrorist attacks? Americans are constantly threatened by people inside and outside of our country. Either by terrorist groups or crazed individuals, the U.S has to have a way to protect itself from these threats. But how can we obtain information before an attack so that citizens are protected? On September 11, 2001 our security was compromised. “On that day, terrorists destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center and severely damaged the Pentagon building using hijacked commercial airliners as weapons of mass destruction. Thousands of innocent people were killed on the ground and in the air” (Wang, Carol Y.). September 11 was probably one of the biggest and most memorable attacks on the United States of America. Four airplanes were hijacked and flown into the twin towers, one in the pentagon, and the last airplane was headed for the white house but crashed in a field. Around 3,000 people were killed that day alone. This included the hijackers, people on the planes and in the buildings destroyed. Memorials have been built and wounds healed but our nation will always have this permanent scar. This isn’t the only time we have had attacks on the American people, and if the last example didn’t scare you bad enough then consider a more recent one. On April 15, 2013 during the Boston marathon two bombs went off injuring over two hundred people. It wasn’t an outside attack but an attack by people who lived in America. We have Terrorists in our own country! Year after year terrorists’ acts are carried out in forms such as bombings, shootings, biological attacks, etc., so how do we stop them? The Government has been pretty limited in how it can investigate, but it’s slowly changed over the years. And one of... ... middle of paper ... ...ue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the person or things to be seized.” Jordan, Terry L. "Amendments to the Constitution." The U.S. Constitution: And Fascinating Facts about It. Naperville, IL: Oak Hill Pub., 1999. 47. Print. “The FBI has increasingly focused its powers on law-abiding citizens, not based on criminal behavior, but based on race, ethnicity and religious or political beliefs.” Khera, Farhana. "Reform the Un-American Patriot Act." CNN. Cable News Network, 01 Jan. 1970. Web. 04 Apr. 2014. authorities have stopped at least 26 others since Sept. 11, 2001 (and perhaps many more that aren't publicly known). Numerous operatives have been arrested and convicted. Mcneill, Jena. "The Patriot Act: Does It Actually Work?" Los Angeles Times. N.p., 21 Oct. 2009. Web. 04 Apr. 2014.
Less than one week after the devastating terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S.A. Patriot Act was introduced to Congress. One month later, the act passed in the Senate with a vote of 98-1. A frightened nation had cried for protection against further attacks, but certainly got more than they had asked for. Russell Feingold, the only Senator to vote down the act, referred to it as, “legislation on the fly, unlike anything [he] had ever seen.” In their haste to protect our great nation, Congress suspended, “normal procedural processes, such as interagency review and committee hearings,” and, “many provisions were not checked for their constitutionality, lack of judicial oversight, and potential for abuse.” Ninety-eight senators were willing to overlook key civil liberty issues contained within the 342 page act. The lone dissenting vote, Wisconsin Senator Russell Feingold, felt that our battle against terrorism would be lost “without firing a shot” if we were to “sacrifice the liberties of the American people.” Feingold duly defended American civil liberties at the risk of his career, truly exemplifying political courage as defined by John F. Kennedy.
Before the attacks on September 11th, Americans were under the assumption that an individual or group of individuals could not do such a devastating thing to humanity. Prior to 9/11 there was a lack of security in airports and on airplanes. “In 2001, airline security was minimal and was the responsibility of the airline. Passengers were asked a few questions by ticket agents before they passed through checkpoints with metal detectors that were calibrated to sound an alarm for anything larger than a small caliber handgun. If an alarm did sound, security at the checkpoint would...
Cole, D., & Dempsey, J. X. (2006). Terrorism and the constitution: sacrificing civil liberties in the name of national security. New York: New Press.
Constitutional amendments from freedom of speech to flag burning.. 2nd ed. Detroit, Mich.: UXL, 2008. Print.
On September 11th, 2001, four planes were hijacked, two planes hit the twin towers, one hit the pentagon, and one crash-landed in a field in Pennsylvania. Since then the government has been doing everything it can to help with security at airports, in airplanes, and in everyday life. Even though the government has been trying to increase security, terrorists have still been successful. Since 9/11, the government has taken many steps to increase security and decrease terrorism. However, security has increased, while terrorism has not decreased.
October 5, 2013 in Cornell Law. CRS/LII Annotated Constitution of the United States. Cornell University Law School, Inc. 2013. The. Web. The Web.
Linder, Doug. "The Nineteenth Amendment." The Nineteenth Amendment. University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School, 2001. Web. 19 Dec. 2013. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/nineteentham.htm
Electronic Frontier Foundation. “Analysis of the Provisions of the USA Patriot Act.” October 31, 2002. American Civil Liberties Union. “USA Patriot Act Boosts Government Powers While Cutting Back on Traditional Checks and Balances.” November 1, 2002.
AShmoop Editorial Team. "Constitution FAQ." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.
The FBI is an organization that takes pride in how they conduct their mission. John E. Ott, editor for the FBI says, “Our goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the threats and pe...
Since September 11, 2001 many people can say that America has changed. Many people question if America has changed for the better or has it just gotten worse. Since the day those four planes crashed around the United States people’s lives have been changed. Many may not realize how their lives have changed, but with new laws passed life is different within America. The United States Patriot Act is one of the laws passed after 9/11: singed into order on October 26, 2001 just 45 days after the attack. The United States Patriot Act was put in place in order to protect Americans, yet has been affecting American’s civil liberties and caused controversy all over the United States.
against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Citizens feeling protected in their own nation is a crucial factor for the development and advancement of that nation. The United States’ government has been able to provide this service for a small tax and for the most part it is money well spent. Due to events leading up to the terrifying attacks on September 11, 2001 and following these attacks, the Unites States’ government has begun enacting certain laws and regulations that ensure the safety of its citizens. From the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) of 1978 to the most recent National Security Agency scandal, the government has attempted and for the most part succeeded in keeping domestic safety under control. Making sure that the balance between obtaining enough intelligence to protect the safety of the nation and the preservation of basic human rights is not extremely skewed, Congress has set forth requisites in FISA which aim to balance the conflicting goals of privacy and security; but the timeline preceding this act has been anything but honorable for the United States government.
BENAC, N. (2011). National security: Ten years after september 11 attacks, u.s. is safe but not
These two articles, one, an address by Attorney General John Ashcroft to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, and the other, an article written by David Cole that appeared on the Amnesty International web site, deal with the ethics and Constitutionality of the United Stated Patriot Act. David Cole, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center, argues that the Patriot Act violates citizen’s civil rights and unfairly imprisons innocent individuals. Attorney General John Ashcroft counters that the Patriot Act is justified as a preventive measure to aid in the war on terrorism.