This CONSERVATIVE ALERT prepared for Charles Mims:
ISSUE: Have you been concerned about the excesses of the PATRIOT Act? So have a lot of other conservatives -- AND liberals! So, earlier this month, a bipartisan group of Senators came together to endorse changes to the USA PATRIOT Act. S. 1709, the "Security and Freedom Ensured (SAFE) Act", would amend and clarify several provisions of the PATRIOT Act, including delayed notice and multi-jurisdictional warrants, wiretaps, and library records and surveillance. "We must always keep the U.S. Constitution in mind as the guideline as Congress works on issues, and homeland security is no exception," Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) remarked at a news conference. "The changes we are proposing through the SAFE Act clarify that terrorists, not law- abiding American citizens, are the targets when federal investigations are underway. I have heard from many [constituents] who are concerned about the overreaching effects that the PATRIOT Act could have, and it is important that Congress make the necessary changes to this law to provide adequate oversight and checks and balances with law enforcement." The SAFE Act is a narrowly-tailored bipartisan bill that would amend several controversial provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act that permit the FBI to conduct surveillance on Americans with inadequate judicial oversight. In particular, it focuses on notification on roving wiretaps and delayed notification, also called "sneak and peek," search warrants. The bill would not impede law enforcement's ability to investigate terrorism, and would not amend pre-PATRIOT Act law in any way. The bill is supported by a broad coalition of advocacy groups from across the political spectrum. "I believe the SAFE Act is a measured, reasonable, and appropriate response to concerns we have with the USA PATRIOT Act," Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) said. "This legislation intends to ensure the liberties of law-abiding individuals are protected in our nation's fight against terrorism, without in any way impeding that fight." The bill was introduced this month by Sen. Craig and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). Similar legislation (HR 3352) was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID). "Recent months have seen a growing realization in Congress and by the American people that some parts of the PATRIOT Act pose serious threats to our constitutional protections... This bill ensures the law enforcement and intelligence communities will have the tools they need to effectively combat terrorism" while addressing many of those concerns, Rep. Otter said. ACTION ITEM: We've been waiting for Congress to finally take action on this festering hot-button issue! Go to our site below to send a FREE editable, pre-written message to your Senators, urging them to support S. 1709, the "Security and Freedom Ensured (SAFE) Act": http://www.conservativealerts.com/102903.htm <a href="http://www.conservativealerts.com/102903.htm";> AOL GO HERE </a> NOTE: Be sure to forward this e-mail to everyone you know who wants to help "roll back" some of the sections of the PATRIOT Act that encroach dangerously on our civil liberties. Thank you! ------------------------------------------------------------ You are receiving this communication because you requested to be e-mailed regarding issues and offers of interest to conservatives, either when you sent an e-mail to Congress, signed an online petition, sent a FedEx, blast fax or mailgram, or when you donated to a conservative cause or candidate on the Internet or through postal mail. You are currently subscribed as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For removal of your subscription, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Was this message forwarded to you by a friend? You can sign up for the ConservativeAlerts.com Action Alerts for FREE! Go here: http://www.ConservativeAlerts.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ ________________________________ Changes to your subscription (unsubs, nomail, digest) can be made by going to http://sandboxmail.net/mailman/listinfo/sndbox_sandboxmail.net
