Gothic.net Community - View Single Post

CptSternn · 04-12-2007, 03:34 AM

Librarian warns against govt. secrecy

http://news.**********/s/ap/patriot_..._44zDOfZvMWM0F

WASHINGTON - A librarian who fended off an
FBI demand for computer records on patrons said Wednesday the government's secret anti-terrorism investigations strip away personal freedoms.

"Terrorists win when the fear of them induces us to destroy the rights that make us free," said George Christian, executive director of Library Connection Inc., a consortium of 27 libraries in the Hartford, Conn., area that share an automated library system.

In prepared testimony for a Senate panel, Christian said his experience "should raise a big patriotic American flag of caution" about the strain that the government's pursuit of would-be terrorists puts on civil liberties.

The government uses the USA Patriot Act and other laws to learn, without proper judicial oversight or any after-the-fact review, what citizens are researching in libraries, Christian said.

A recent report by the Justice Department's inspector general that found 48 violations of law or rules in the FBI's use of documents, known as national security letters, during 2003 through 2005. Some congressional critics want to tighten legal safeguards on the letters.

"'Trust us' doesn't cut it when it comes to the government's power to obtain Americans' sensitive business records without a court order and without any suspicion that they are tied to terrorism or espionage," said Sen. Russ Feingold (news, bio, voting record), D-Wis., the chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution.

Under the Patriot Act, the FBI can use the letters to acquire telephone, e-mail, travel and financial records without a judge's approval. Letter recipients are not allowed to disclose their involvement in a request...

Quite possibly one of thwe best quotes to date...

[b]Librarian warns against govt. secrecy

http://news.**********/s/ap/patriot_..._44zDOfZvMWM0F

[i]WASHINGTON - A librarian who fended off an
FBI demand for computer records on patrons said Wednesday the government's secret anti-terrorism investigations strip away personal freedoms.

"Terrorists win when the fear of them induces us to destroy the rights that make us free."

04-12-2007, 03:34 AM	#49
CptSternn Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 4,587	Librarian warns against govt. secrecy http://news.********/s/ap/patriot_..._44zDOfZvMWM0F WASHINGTON - A librarian who fended off an FBI demand for computer records on patrons said Wednesday the government's secret anti-terrorism investigations strip away personal freedoms. "Terrorists win when the fear of them induces us to destroy the rights that make us free," said George Christian, executive director of Library Connection Inc., a consortium of 27 libraries in the Hartford, Conn., area that share an automated library system. In prepared testimony for a Senate panel, Christian said his experience "should raise a big patriotic American flag of caution" about the strain that the government's pursuit of would-be terrorists puts on civil liberties. The government uses the USA Patriot Act and other laws to learn, without proper judicial oversight or any after-the-fact review, what citizens are researching in libraries, Christian said. A recent report by the Justice Department's inspector general that found 48 violations of law or rules in the FBI's use of documents, known as national security letters, during 2003 through 2005. Some congressional critics want to tighten legal safeguards on the letters. "'Trust us' doesn't cut it when it comes to the government's power to obtain Americans' sensitive business records without a court order and without any suspicion that they are tied to terrorism or espionage," said Sen. Russ Feingold (news, bio, voting record), D-Wis., the chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution. Under the Patriot Act, the FBI can use the letters to acquire telephone, e-mail, travel and financial records without a judge's approval. Letter recipients are not allowed to disclose their involvement in a request... Quite possibly one of thwe best quotes to date... [b]Librarian warns against govt. secrecy http://news.******/s/ap/patriot_..._44zDOfZvMWM0F [i]WASHINGTON - A librarian who fended off an FBI demand for computer records on patrons said Wednesday the government's secret anti-terrorism investigations strip away personal freedoms. "Terrorists win when the fear of them induces us to destroy the rights that make us free."**