Patriot Act opponents forcing House vote on library, book store records

[Judi Lynn]

July 8, 2004


Patriot Act opponents forcing House vote on library, book store records

Washington-AP -- A House vote is set for today on a plan to keep the government from using the Patriot Act to demand book store and library records.

The Patriot Act, passed after the Nine-Eleven attacks, strengthened the government's surveillance and detention powers. But some lawmakers say parts of it go too far.

In the words of Independent Vermont Congressman Bernard Sanders -- "Every American wants to fight terrorism vigorously, but they want to do it in a way that does not undermine basic Constitutional rights." Sanders is planning to offer an amendment to a budget bill providing (b) billions of dollars next year for the departments of Commerce, Justice and State.
(snip/...)

http://www.kplctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2012005

[MissAnnThrope]

1. er.......

OK, what sort of terrorist is going to go into a book store and use a credit or debit card to pay for books on bomb building and the like? If a person pays cash for a book, they leave no paper trail. This is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard and a waste of the taxpayers' money.

Not to mention, how many college kids are going to end up being investigated because part of their history course requires them to read The Communist Manifesto and other such literature? How many disenfranchised HS kids who buy The Anarchist's Cookbook, which is completely outdated and contained all sorts of erroneous information that could get a person killed are going to be taken in for questioning? How many grade school kids are going to be the embarrassment of the neighborhood because they're doing a Social Studies report on the Middle East and they check books out of their local library?

I doubt they're going to nab one terrorist this way. If they do, I will eat that statement, but I think it's a joke.

[dbt]

2. Good Morning to the Arkansas Delegation!

Your votes on this matter will be carefully watched. Very carefully watched. You now have an opportunity to start undoing some of the SHIT you have so blindly helped bu$h pile on the Constitution.

It's time to do the Right Thing, boys.

:evilgrin:
dbt

[MaineDem]

3. Anyone have the bill number?

I want to call my Congressman about this.