Why Opposing The Patriot Act’s Library Provision Is Important

“The US government says it’s not interested in nosing around libraries, and an expensive study would appear to confirm that claim. So what’s the big deal? Why are so many groups, from the American Library Association to a bipartisan collection of members of Congress, so opposed to Section 215? Last month, the U.S. House approved a measure barring the Justice Department from spending money on library and bookstore searches under Section 215. Are these opponents of 215 ‘soft on terrorism,’ as some Bush administration members charge? Do they want to provide a “safe haven in bookstores and libraries”? Well, no.”