Was the USA PATRIOT Act ever used to pursue the people behind 9/11?
Super-power
31-10-2005, 23:14
It's a rather simple question, concerning something about its use (or misuse). Fact of the matter is that USA PATRIOT cannot be used to pursue the people behind 9/11. Doing so would involve applying the law retroactively (or in legal terms ex post facto, and I am quite sure that the Constitution bans the use of ex post facto laws.
I hope I am not the only person w/half enough wits to spot this....
It's a rather simple question, concerning something about its use (or misuse). Fact of the matter is that USA PATRIOT cannot be used to pursue the people behind 9/11. Doing so would involve applying the law retroactively (or in legal terms ex post facto, and I am quite sure that the Constitution bans the use of ex post facto laws.
I hope I am not the only person w/half enough wits to spot this....
The Patriot Act is/was a Crock. It's not even worth debating except for how to get rid of it.
Super-power
31-10-2005, 23:24
The Patriot Act is/was a Crock. It's not even worth debating except for how to get rid of it.
Oh, I realize it's total BS, but you'd think that such a simple concept like ex post facto use would have tripped more alarms sooner.
San Texario
31-10-2005, 23:31
If you can give me the wording of the law and remind me what ex post facto is (I've forgotten most of my history from last year), I'd like to figure that out.
Zouloukistan
31-10-2005, 23:37
What a name, the USA PATRIOT ACT, there wasn't any better name left?
Super-power
01-11-2005, 00:03
If you can give me the wording of the law and remind me what ex post facto is (I've forgotten most of my history from last year), I'd like to figure that out.
Ex post facto - applying a law retroactively, affecting facts or legal relationships that existed prior to the enactment of the law.
While the 9/11 terrorists' actions were throughouly sick and violated antiterror laws in place at the time, their actions came before USA PATRIOT was ever passed
Refused Party Program
01-11-2005, 00:05
What a name, the USA PATRIOT ACT, there wasn't any better name left?
They didn't want people to confuse it with all those other Patriot Acts out there.
Ashmoria
01-11-2005, 00:09
those people inside the US who were involved in 9/11 and those outside the US who were invovled in 9/11 and might enter the country after the fact were already in violation of the law.
the patriot act didnt make conspiring to fly planes into the world trade center illegal. strangely enough, that was already illegal. it provided ways to identify and track terrorists.