Patriot Act Puts Your Civil Liberties On the Line

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Wed, 20 Jul 2005 18:36:54 GMT

" Mother Jones " <newsletters

Patriot Act Puts Your Civil Liberties On the Line

 

 

 

 

Dear Friend,

 

This week, key leaders in Congress are pushing to make the expiring

sections of the Patriot Act permanent. A vote in the House of

Representatives could come as early as Thursday, July 21.

 

Do you care about your privacy? Or about who has access to your

medical and financial records? If you do, you can stand up for your

constitutional freedoms by taking action today.

http://ga3.org/ct/b1zEfmn1ezBS/

 

Even though Congress still has six months to deliberate before

sections of this notorious legislation expire, some lawmakers are

looking to rush the renewal process through now -- stifling dissent

and debate just as they did in 2001 during the original passage of the

Patriot Act.

 

This must not be allowed to happen. Congress went too far, too fast

the last time around. It has a chance now to fix the Patriot Act, and

to keep our personal records free of unwarranted federal scrutiny and

our homes free of secret searches.

 

If we don't show our strength now, Congress will pass the Patriot Act

reauthorization without the reforms we need to keep us safe and free.

Please tell Congress we need to reform the Patriot Act, not expand it.

http://ga3.org/ct/b1zEfmn1ezBS/

 

Under the Patriot Act, the government has easy access to your personal

records. Information about the books you buy and borrow. Your private

medical and tax records. " Sneak and peek " warrants that allow the

government to conduct searches without telling you until well after

the fact. Are you okay with this? If not, take action now.

http://ga3.org/ct/b1zEfmn1ezBS/

 

Remind our leaders that neither the horrifying London bombings nor the

looming Congressional recess are reasons to short-circuit a real

debate over whether the Patriot Act's powers materially enhance our

security, and whether the civil liberties of ordinary Americans are

adequately protected, the test suggested by the bipartisan 9-11

Commission.

 

Please take action now so we can ensure that Congress protects our

most fundamental liberties.

http://ga3.org/ct/b1zEfmn1ezBS/

 

And please take a moment as you complete your action to forward the

alert to friends, colleagues and loved ones who care about civil

liberties and the preservation of our democracy.

 

Thank you for helping to keep America safe and free.

 

Sincerely,

Anthony D. Romero

Anthony D. Romero

Executive Director, ACLU