Forty-Three Lawmakers Push Resolution Seeking Patriot Act Changes
By Cyndi Roy for the State House News Service
       Provisions of the USA Patriot Act intended to protect US residents from terrorism are compromising the civil rights and liberties of Bay State residents, a coalition led by civil libertarians told Beacon Hill lawmakers Wednesday.
       The group, including constitutional law professors, elected officials, students, and citizens is urging the Legislature to adopt a resolution calling on the Congress to repeal or change certain sections of the law they say give law enforcement officials the green light to violate residents’ privacy.
       The resolution is backed by 43 Democratic state lawmakers.
       It asks federal legislators to “allow to sunset, to repeal, and to amend those sections of the USA Patriot Act which allow the Executive branch to infringe upon the rights and liberties of persons as specified in the United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of the Commonwealth, and to oppose any additional legislation that would infringe upon these rights and liberties.”
       No Republicans have signed onto the legislation (H 1881).
       The USA Patriot Act was enacted in Congress in October 2001 to give law enforcement officials a wide range of tools to prevent terrorism. But the resolution’s backers say those sworn to protect public safety are using the law to commit “racial and religious profiling, conducting warrantless searches, and maintaining files on individuals and organizations without reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct.”