E-Actions for Freedom: July 2003 Archives

July 22, 2003

Stop the Government Super-Snoop Plan

In a surprise development, the Senate has adopted legislation that would completely block funding for the Pentagon's infamous Terrorism Information Awareness program (formerly known as Total Information Awareness or TIA).

The Senate's ban was adopted as part of the 2004 defense spending bill. To become law and end the program that would indiscriminately track the daily activities of Americans, the ban must survive a joint House-Senate conference committee.

Opposition to the program has been unusually strong from across the political spectrum. Groups as disparate as the American Conservative Union and the ACLU have advocated against the development of this super-snoop system that would inevitably identify thousands of innocent people as potential terrorists. Yet the Bush Administration is threatening a veto of the defense bill if TIA is defunded.

Click here to get more information and send a free fax to your Members of Congress urging them to support a complete ban on TIA.

Posted by Lance Brown at 09:36 PM | Comments (0)

Support the Freedom to Read

Under the USA PATRIOT Act, the FBI gained the power to search your library and book-buying records without probable cause of any crime or intent to commit a crime. It also stops librarians and booksellers from telling you that this search has even occurred.

The FBI has been aggressively using these new powers without providing Congress with explanations about its activities. A University of Illinois survey shows libraries were targeted at least 175 times in the year after 9/11 -- yet the FBI refuses to explain how or why.

In response to these invasions of our civil liberties, a bipartisan group of Representatives have introduced an amendment to an appropriations bill that would restore many key checks and balances. This amendment will be voted on in the coming days and deserves our strong support.

Take Action! Click here for more information and to send a free fax to your Representative.

Posted by Lance Brown at 09:11 PM | Comments (0)

July 08, 2003

Support Corrections to the PATRIOT Act

From: Matt Howes, National Internet Organizer, ACLU
To: ACLU Action Network Members
Date: July 8, 2003

As Congress returns from its Independence Day break, now is the perfect time to remind our Representatives and Senators that we must continually defend the liberties and rights enshrined in our founding principles. One recent attack on these rights was the USA PATRIOT Act, a bill that Congress adopted just 45 days after the September 11 tragedies. This sweeping legislation undercuts many important checks and balances on government law enforcement and intelligence powers.

The PATRIOT Act and other post-9/11 government actions have created a groundswell of opposition from all parts of the political spectrum. Resolutions opposing the PATRIOT Act have been passed in 136 communities and three states. Taken together, these municipalities and states represent about 16.5 million people.

Instead of properly addressing the failure of law enforcement to identify and respond to threats to our safety, the Administration and Members of Congress rashly passed legislation that infringes on our freedoms and rights. The PATRIOT Act and other government actions need proper review and must be brought into line with the Constitution.

Click here for more information about the PATRIOT Act, the resolution movement and to send a free fax to your Members of Congress:

http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=13081&c=206

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Posted by Lance Brown at 09:16 PM | Comments (0)

July 03, 2003

Welcome new member to Ron Paul's Liberty Caucus

Welcome Jo Ann Davis to the Liberty Caucus From Rep. Ron Paul's Liberty Committee, which I agree with about 85% of the time. (Sometimes I disagree with their interpretation of the Constitution, and sometimes I sense that conservativism, not libertarianism, is at the heart of their arguments.)...

Subject: New caucus member

July 3, 2003

Help us welcome a new caucus member. Representative Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) has joined Dr. Ron Paul’s Liberty Caucus.

As we celebrate Independence Day, take heart – we are stronger. Nationwide, over 10,000 citizens have recently signed
up to become activists with The Liberty Committee – we are no over 90,000 strong. On Capitol Hill, The Liberty Caucus has grown to 21 members…and we expect to be able to announce more members soon.

What you do now matters to Representative Davis – just as what Representative Davis does matters to you and the
survival of our republic.

Please congratulate Jo Ann Davis for taking a public stand with Dr. Paul’s to vote more consistently in support of
constitutional principle. It takes courage to join the caucus; other members of Congress will take notice.

Let Representative Davis know you are proud of her decision and will be watching. She created a special E-mail address just for TLC communications. She is serious. Wherever you are, you can send Jo Ann Davis a message.

Give Representative Davis your support. Her E-mail address is mailto:joann.davis@mail.house.gov

Next time, when the political power brokers are trying to pressure Jo Ann Davis to do the WRONG thing, let’s make sure Representative Davis has all our thousands of messages to think about.

Happy Independence Day!

Kent Snyder
The Liberty Committee

Posted by Lance Brown at 11:24 PM | Comments (0)

March 2004