"The FBI is visiting libraries nationwide and checking the reading records of people it suspects of having ties to terrorists or plotting an attack, library officials say. The USA Patriot Act that President Bush signed in October both authorizes such searches and makes it a criminal offense for librarians to reveal the details or extent of the probes." (Thanks to Skarlet, who posted this charming piece of news in a comment to this post at Matt's place. The italics are mine). Does this remind anyone else of Ray Bradbury and Fahrenheit 451?
This action thoroughly tramples the spirit, if not the letter, of the Fourth Amendment:
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.
Of 535 members of the House and Senate, 217 are lawyers, according to C-Span. One would think at least some of that number would remember their Constitutional Law courses.
Posted by Linkmeister at June 25, 2002 10:19 PMahh, *sniff sniff* the patriot act. i love the smell of totalitariasm.
Posted by: kd at June 26, 2002 12:09 PM