Patriot Act - Paper

ENG 122
Elizabeth Myers
June 6, 2011

The PATRIOT Act
Individual Privacy vs. National Security has become a hot topic since Osama bin Laden orchestrated the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001 where over 3,000 Americans lost their lives in a senseless act of terrorism.   On May 2, 2011, almost 10 years after the September 11th assault on America, the United States hit a historic milestone with the successful mission that resulted in the killing of the mastermind behind these gruesome attacks.   Emotions run high when thoughts of September 11th are discussed.   Thousands of families lost mothers, fathers, sister, brothers, aunts, uncles, friends, and neighbors.   Lives were forever changed that day and life as we know it in America will never be the same.   Our government saw a need for a change to the way America guards against terrorist attacks and protects the security of our nation.   The USA Patriot Act was signed into law by George W. Bush on October 26, 2001.   The USA PATRIOT Act is an acronym that stands for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act.   The USA PATRIOT Act was established to “deter and punish terrorist acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and other purposes” (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, n.d).   “The Act removed the major legal barriers that prevented the law enforcement, intelligence, and national defense communities from talking and coordinating their work to protect the American people and our national security” (USA PATRIOT Act, n.d).   “The Act grants federal officials greater powers to trace and intercept terrorists’ communications both for law enforcement and foreign intelligence purposes. It re-enforces federal anti-money laundering laws and regulations in an effort to deny terrorists the resources necessary for future attacks. It tightens our immigration laws to close our borders to foreign...