Bush signed the USA Patriot Act into law on the 26th of October in 2001 just one month following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. The "proposed" bills that make up the USA Patriot Act were a direct result of the acts of terrorism, when "combating terrorism became a national priority" (USA Patriot Act: Too Much 1). President Bush states that the Patriot Act "takes account of the new realities and dangers posed by modern terrorists. It will help law enforcement to identify, to dismantle, to disrupt, and to punish terrorists before they strike" (Davis 1). The USA Patriot Act was enacted in order to combat terrorism; however, the act becomes incredibly close to stepping over the fine line of illegal search and seizure as well as invading upon an individual's civil liberties.
Many United States citizens and politicians support the USA Patriot Act and its provisions. The Attorney General John Ashcroft states that the "law enforcements ability to prevent another attack on American soil would be more difficult, if not impossible, without the Patriot Act" (Swartz 1). Due to the devastating events which took place on .
September 11th, the USA Patriot Act was "passed quickly and without significant debate" .
(USA Patriot Act: Too Much 1). Many Americans are willing to give up their freedom .
of civil liberties in order to feel that terrorists in the United States or abroad are being caught before another act of violence takes place on American soil or on the American people as a whole.
In order to combat terrorism the USA Patriot Act was "grounded in good intentions" and "contained some needed response to address the issues facing law enforcement in our technological age". The provisions in which it maintains should be "subject to comprehensive review and debate" because of the importance of an individual's civil liberties (USA Patriot Act: Too Much 1-2).
