On The Front Lines
Rutherford Institute Commends House of Representatives for Opposing Patriot Act Provision, Protecting Freedom to Read
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- The Rutherford Institute commended the U.S. House of Representatives for its approval of a measure that will make it harder for federal agents to secretly gather information on people's library reading habits and bookstore purchases. The Freedom to Read Amendment, which was introduced by Representative Bernard Sanders (I-VT) as an amendment to a $57.5 billion spending measure and passed by a vote of 238-to-187, blocks a provision of the USA Patriot Act that gave federal investigators the unprecedented power to search libraries and book-buying records without probable cause of any crime or intent to commit a crime. The Freedom to Read Amendment, like the Freedom to Read Protection Act (H.R. 1157), also sponsored by Congressman Sanders, restores legal standards and warrant procedures for investigations of library and bookstore records that were in place before passage of the Patriot Act. The Rutherford Institute worked with Rep. Sanders' office in reviewing and shaping the language for the Freedom to Read legislation."In the same way that freedom of speech is essential to the preservation of a free society, the freedom to read is essential to our democracy," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. "We hope this is a sign that our representatives in Congress are beginning to understand the importance of safeguarding our freedoms as well as our security."
Passed in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the USA Patriot Act gives the government sweeping authority to monitor what books Americans read and buy, search homes and businesses without prior notification, monitor electronic communications, and allow noncitizens to be locked up without charges on the Attorney General's order. Since the passage of the Patriot Act, 378 local and county governments and seven state legislatures representing millions of Americans have passed resolutions or ordinances opposing aspects of the Patriot Act that they believe to be at odds with the United States Constitution. Despite an outcry from civil liberties groups and communities across the country, the Senate Intelligence Committee recently reauthorized expanding the Patriot Act's powers through the Patriot Reauthorization Act, which would, for example, allow the FBI to write and approve its own search orders. To read more about The Rutherford Institute's concerns about the Patriot Act, visit our Operation Eroding Freedom blog.
The Rutherford Institute is an international, nonprofit civil liberties organization committed to defending constitutional and human rights.
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