My dad believes that after 9/11 we in American haven't lost any freedoms?

Question

and even says that with the repeal of the Brady Ban on semi-automatics he is freer now than before.

I believe that with the PATRIOT Act and the general feelings of fear pervading the country that we are less free.

What do you guys think? Do you feel more or less free? Have your rights been intruded upon?

Answer 1

I have experienced no loss of freedom since 9/11. The differences I do see are mostly inconveniences rather than a loss of any freedom. For example, one has to get to the airport a couple hours earlier now for a flight in order to facilitate the screening of passengers and their luggage.
It is of absolutely no consequence to me that telephone calls, for instance, that are made to known terrorists, terrorist sympathizers or terrorist countries are no longer private.

Answer 2

The Patriot Act does not restrict our civil liberties, contrary to what many would like you to think.
Let me touch on the email subject, since sooooooooo many babies cry about this, yet they have NO CLUE what they are crying about.
1) There are literally trillions of emails being sent through the US daily. Is the NSA reading them....hell no...its impossible. Are they reading some of them? Sorta. If you have an email with a simple word: Mohommad in it...than no. If you say "bomb"...then no...its a system they use that runs an algorithm search through all the electronic traffic SELECTED...thats right...its all done on a random selection, so there still exists the possibility some of it is escaping their review. Just because you say on this, doesn't mean it will raise a red flag. It when multiple red flags are raised that it may spark the NSA's interest. So, please, don't lose sleep over this cause it really is nothing.
2) All encrypted files must have a back door. I hear people complain so much about this it blows me away!!! Why do you care!? What are you hiding?! The reality is, and the US has known about this for some time but was unable to act on it without the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act, terrorist (both domestic and international) send pictures to one another (some seemingly benign like a dog, others in the form of cheap porn from a cheap website) with a message encoded within it. At a glance, you cannot see anything is wrong with the file or the picture. But with encryption software a red flag would appear letting us know there is something contained with the picture. So, the back door policy allows us fast, more efficient access to make sure it is not a terrorist message. This actually does happen, and I have physically seen it. I never would have imagined this to be a venue for communication...but it is.
3) Money Laundering. We all get upset with Illegals working here and sending the money to Mexico, well the same happened before the PATRIOT act, but there were lfew mechanisms in place to retrict this flow...it was actually illegal to do so. So, now there are strict laws governing this flow and requires immediate notification to the local FBI regarding any suspected situations.
It can easily be argued that these mechanisms actually increase our safety without violating our rights. At present, NO ONE has been arrested or charged with a crime under the PATRIOT act that was not directly operating with the intention of harming others or US interests.
So, despite what others are crying about....to date, not civil rights have been violated.

Answer 3

I don't feel any less free. The added security at airports and public events is an inconvenience, but not a loss of freedom.

Personally I don't have anything to hide, so I don't feel my rights have been violated. If the government wants to listen in on my phone conversations, they are welcome.

A heightened feeling of fear is probably an appropriate response to what happened and if it increases our vigilance and awareness, it is a good thing.

Answer 4

In a nutshell...TWO WORDS-Patriot Act.
Oh just an FYI the assult weapons was a ban that was not re-signed. The Brady Bill was Sarah Bradys brainfart knee jerk reaction from a criminal having a gun that shouldn't have had one in the first place, but no amount of gun laws would have prevented it anyway...because criminals always access guns no matter the law and it prevents legal citizens the legal right to protect their person and property.

Answer 5

Your father is a very smart man. Can you name any freedom that either he, as an adult, or you as a teen, I assume, have lost? I can still go where I want, when I want. No one, despite what neolibs want you to think, is listening in on my phone calls or reading my emails--or yours. I can do everything and anything now that I could do before 9/11 and I feel safer flying now than ever before. Whereas, I don't believe that any of us need to have semi-automatic weapons, even if some of us are collectors, I don't really see how even that effects my freedom.

Answer 6

Your dad is right. Name one freedom that has been taken from you. And yes, with the unconstitutional Brady Bill gone we are more free to defend ourselves. You are talking about your feelings based on what people have manipulated you to feel. Your dad is speaking of facts, and the truth is on his side. I think your dad is probably a good American who loves real freedom.

Answer 7

I feel as free as I ever have. The only people that lost out are those that mean the Country some harm. I don't think that people trying to kill me need the protection of our laws.

Answer 8

I am more free and more safe.
The Patriot Act is necessary to protect our freedom and our nation from those who would do us harm.

Your dad is a smart man!

Answer 9

I'm as free as I ever was. I think the only people who's freedoms have been affected are criminals for the most part.

Answer 10

Yes, though mine haven't been intruded personally, the law has definitely created unnecessary ways for mine and others rights to be intruded upon.