[IP] US terror law 'unconstitutional'

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: dewayne@warpspeed.com (Dewayne Hendricks)
Date: September 7, 2007 10:24:45 AM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <xyzzy@warpspeed.com>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] US terror law 'unconstitutional'

[Note:  This item comes from reader Ken DiPietro.  DLH]

From: "." <ken.dipietro@advantaq.com>
Date: September 7, 2007 6:56:48 AM PDT
To: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@warpspeed.com>
Subject: The good intercept story deserves some balance.

US terror law 'unconstitutional'

A law allowing federal anti-terrorism agents to access information on  
the US public without a warrant has been ruled as unconstitutional by  
a US judge.

Victor Marrero said Congress exceeded its authority by allowing the  
FBI to keep requests secret under the Patriot Act, passed after the  
9/11 attacks.

He said the act offended constitutional principles of checks and  
balances, and violated the guarantee of free speech.

The requests were mainly for financial, telephone and internet records.

Judge Marrero said his ruling would not take effect immediately, thus  
giving the government time to appeal.

[snip]

The full article can be read here: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/ 
americas/6982826.stm>


As a personal comment, one of the principles that this nation was  
founded on is best expressed by the statement, "Give me liberty or  
give me death."

I find it reprehensible that we, as a nation, have turned into such  
cowards that we would give up anything and everything for a poorly  
executed, false sense of security.

Ben Franklin would be appalled. [ He said  They who can give up  
essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither  
liberty nor safety. Fri, Feb 17, 1775 djf]


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