Decriminalization Of Terrorism

Since its creation, America has become known as the ‘Land of the Free’; a place where anyone and everyone could settle for a prosperous life with limitless opportunities. Our constitution grants its citizens freedom all while protecting their rights. Although, in modern times, some have argued that America needs an increase in security, however, numerous people find it unconstitutional and often abridges in the rights of the people. In instances like the PATRIOT Act when the NSA kept people’s phone records without their knowledge, people viewed this as an invasion of privacy, even if it’s original purpose was to prevent future acts of terrorism. It violated the fourth amendment which grants us the right to privacy unless there was probable …show more content…
After 9/11 nearly all Americans, including the government, felt this way which resulted in the PATRIOT Act (Kubic, M. pg. 1). The PATRIOT Act compelled telephone companies to hand over phone records without telling its customers, for them to search for suspicious activity (Kubic, M. pg. 3). While they intended to use this information to stop terrorism the government ignored Amendment IV of the Constitution. “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.” (Amend. IV). This means the people have the right to privacy and protection from illegal search and seizure. With this Amendment, authorities cannot take or go through anything that would be considered your property. Considering phone records are your property and as the NSA did not have probable cause to collect them from telephone companies the government violated the very foundation of our …show more content…
Although the government has a responsibility to keep its citizens safe, they never intended for the government’s security precautions to affect the rights of the people. America was made to be a place for people to be free and protected which is a balance of both freedom and security. However, when there is a choice between the two, the people choose freedom because not only is it in our constitution it is also the American mindset. For example, in the PATRIOT Act, citizens felt violated because we did not have the privacy we have been promised (Kubic, M. 2016). Additionally, when Trump banned Muslims, we were outraged at the discrimination and unfairness of the situation (Association Press 2016). Freedom is more important than security because with freedom you can live the life you want with endless opportunities and no worries of a corrupt government trying to control you. Furthermore, a nation made for freedom should remain free as freedom is the blood that runs through this country’s