Hundreds of Cities Outlaw the Patriot Act

Vince Page

Cities, counties, and entire states all across the country are passing laws establishing “constitutionally safe zones” in which local authorities pledge not to comply with unconstitutional orders emanating from the U.S.A. Patriot Act. If your city isn’t on the list, you need to take action.

If you haven’t heard by now, the nicely titled U.S.A. Patriot Act is actually a revision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, which was implemented to monitor foreign government spies without warrants. This legislation was revised to deal with the realities of 9/11, re-titled the “U.S.A. Patriot Act” and signed into law. Only later did we discover that it authorized the same warrant-less searches on American citizens that were once reserved exclusively for non-citizens. Thus the change in the first word of the title from “Foreign” to “U.S.A.” is apropos, but the word “Patriot” is misleading in a very cynical sense.

Now, the houses of American citizens can be — and have been — searched without the citizen ever receiving a warrant, usually while the owners are at work.

Now, the home phones, work phones, and cell phones of American citizens can be — and have been — tapped without anyone ever receiving a warrant.

Now, the e-mail and regular mail of American citizens can be — and has been — intercepted without anyone ever receiving a warrant.

Now, hidden microphones and hidden cameras can be — and have been — used against American citizens without anyone ever receiving a warrant.

Now, American citizens can be — and have been — arrested without being advised of the crime they are alleged to have committed and without being given access to a lawyer.

Now, American citizens can be — and have been — incarcerated indefinitely without recourse to a speedy trial, without being allowed to face their accusers, and without being allowed to plead their case in front of a jury of their peers.

Those in favor of the U.S.A. Patriot Act will be quick to point out that warrants are issued for all of these things, but they will fail to tell you that they are secret warrants, and that all documents pertaining thereto — including the warrant — are sealed and unavailable, especially to the person being surveilled, citizen or not.

This is diametrically opposed to the language of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution, which states, “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, 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.”

So not only was the Constitution tossed out the window when the U.S.A. Patriot Act was passed, mistakes can now be — and have been — made without our knowledge.

You may have inherited a cell phone number that was previously being tapped. This has actually happened. Guess what? Chances are, it’s still being tapped, but you’ll never know.

Incorrect addresses on secret warrants can result in a nasty — and