The right to read and the USA Patriot Act

Hasty Ent · 04-24-2003, 02:32 PM

Just saw this article and as an American, I find it chilling.
Evidently, libraries and bookstores are now purging their records to protect the privacy of readers.

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/Bu...ad030424.html#

The good news, as you'll see towards the end, is that --
Quote: A bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Barry Sanders, I-Vt., last month to exempt libraries and booksellers from the provisions of Section 215 of the Patriot Act. The bill has "about 70 co-sponsors, including a half-dozen Republicans," Sanders' chief of staff, Jeff Weaver said.

Under the bill, called the Freedom to Read Protection Act, bookstore and library records could still be sought by law enforcement, but only with evidence of probable cause. End quote.

Any thoughts?

04-24-2003, 02:32 PM	#1
Hasty Ent Elf Lord Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 516	The right to read and the USA Patriot Act Just saw this article and as an American, I find it chilling. Evidently, libraries and bookstores are now purging their records to protect the privacy of readers. http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/Bu...ad030424.html# The good news, as you'll see towards the end, is that -- Quote: A bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Barry Sanders, I-Vt., last month to exempt libraries and booksellers from the provisions of Section 215 of the Patriot Act. The bill has "about 70 co-sponsors, including a half-dozen Republicans," Sanders' chief of staff, Jeff Weaver said. Under the bill, called the Freedom to Read Protection Act, bookstore and library records could still be sought by law enforcement, but only with evidence of probable cause. End quote. Any thoughts? __________________ Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)