The Patriot Act Renewal

Normally, I'd say we need no new bills introduced to make our country safer. We have plenty of very well thought out laws on our books right now. What we DO need to do is to get behind enforcement of our current laws AND to fund the enforcement arms of our various governmental departments. The same goes for the enforcement functions of our many agencies responsible for public safety.

Politicians love to introduce bills that are popular with their constituencies so that they appear to be tough on issues important back home. Often the new bills are Congress and Senate grand-standing time-wasters--and the problems of, say, drugs getting into this country or illegal immigrants leaving it, could very easily be handled with enforcement of laws already on the books. IF the the majority of our officials really want these problems solved.

I remember when it was the JOB of law enforcement to ferret out illegal aliens for the specific purpose of returning them to their countries of record. INS came to local jails, double checked immigration papers, and then gathered up every illegal that was here without documentation and returned them "home" in the course of every day police work. I blame "moral relativism" for our change of heart toward enforcing these laws. That and the fact that our business community has convinced our leadership that our economy would take a severe "hit" if we simply stopped the importation of drugs or illegals. Now, instead, we empathize with the sad stories of those breaking our laws. I agree their stories are sad, but if we are to selectively enforce US laws, we are treading on dangerous turf.

In any case, if the Dubai World Port deal does go through, wouldn't you want these added security provisions (listed below) to be in place?

Come on democrats and republicans, on Thursday, the Patriot Act needs permanent renewal--or at least renewal until the end of this administration's term. This administrations believes it needs the Patriot Act to do its job properly. If the dems successfully win the Presidency in 2008 and think they can get by without it, fine, let it expire then. (Full article here.)

If Senate Democrats were serious about port security they would leap to support the Patriot Act.…

Because here are some of the legal provisions within the Patriot Act that will help law enforcement officials:

Seaport Entry by False Pretenses. It is a federal crime to use fraud or false pretenses to enter federal property, a vessel or aircraft of the United States, or the secured area in an airport. Section 302 expands this law to cover America's ports and increases the penalty for violations.

Obstructing Maritime Inspections. Section 303 establishes a new, general federal crime to forcibly interfere with the boarding of the vessel by federal law enforcement or resist arrest, or to provide boarding federal law enforcement officers with false information concerning the vessel's cargo, origin, destination, registration, ownership, nationality or crew.

Interference with Maritime Commerce. Section 305 establishes a new crime, under which it is a federal crime punishable by imprisonment for any term of years or for life (or the death penalty if death results) to place a dangerous substance or device in the navigable waters of the United States with the intent to damage a vessel or its cargo or to interfere with maritime commerce. Section 305 also creates a second new crime, punishable by 20 years in prison, to tamper with any navigational aid maintained by the Coast Guard or St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

Transporting Dangerous Materials. Section 306 establishes a new federal offense against the transportation of explosives, biological, chemical, radioactive weapons, or nuclear material aboard a vessel in the United States, in waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction, on the high seas, or aboard a vessel of the United States. The crime is punishable by imprisonment for any term of years or for life and may be punishable by death if death results from commission of the offense.

Transporting Terrorists. Section 306 also creates a new federal offense for transporting an individual knowing he or she intends to commit, or is fleeing from the commission of, a federal crime of terrorism.

Stowaways. Section 310, increases the penalty for stowing away from imprisonment for not more than one year to not more than five years (not more than 20 years if the offense is committed with the intent to inflict serious injury upon another or if serious injury to another results); or if death results, by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

Port Security Bribery. Section 311 makes it a federal crime to bribe any individual (private or public) within any secure or restricted area or seaport with the intent to commit international or domestic terrorism.
And these are just some of the provisions focusing on port security...

These legal tools will make America's ports safer--they are good steps forward and real reasons to no longer delay the Patriot Act's permanent enactment.

***

Photo Credit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/patriotact/