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New Security Bill Proposed

Posted by Hemos on from the the-joy-of-the-legislative-process dept.

frdmfghtr writes "ZDnet is reporting on a new security bill coming up right before the election in November that is geared towards increasing security in the U.S. "One section anticipates storing the "lifetime travel history of each foreign national or United States citizen" into a database for the convenience of government officials." Senator McCain and HLS secretary Tom Ridge are mentioned specifically in the article: "McCain envisions erecting physical checkpoints, dubbed "screening points," near subways, airports, bus stations, train stations, federal buildings, telephone companies, Internet hubs and any other "critical infrastructure" facility deemed vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Secretary Tom Ridge would appear to be authorized to issue new federal IDs--with biometric identifiers--that Americans could be required to show at checkpoints." Reminds me not-so-vaguely of checkpoints in Soviet Russia where you needed papers to pass."

2 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Dare to Vote Against It by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll
    The bill is a violation of the civil rights of American citizens and intrudes on their privacy.

    However, the bill does not go far enough in dealing with foreign nationals: Chinese, Indians, Middle Easterners, Mexicans, etc. The bill should specifically legalize nationality profiling. Anyone holding Syrian citizenship, for example, should be subjected to a strip search. The bill should also place American national guardsmen at the US-Mexican border.

  2. Thanks! by JavaLord · · Score: 0, Troll

    E-mail will also work, and hell, if you have all of ten minutes and $2, consider writing a very basic letter and overnighting it USPS. Remember: you don't have to convince them, all you need to let them know is that you are opposed to it. Paper talks.

    Ok, thanks! I have to tell you though, I'm not opposed to it and I plan to write. From the article summary:

    McCain envisions erecting physical checkpoints, dubbed "screening points," near subways, airports, bus stations, train stations, federal buildings, telephone companies, Internet hubs and any other "critical infrastructure" facility deemed vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

    I ride 2 trains from New Jersey and 3 subways in NYC everyday both to and from work. I can tell you the security is piss poor, and some type of screening system would be nice. While I'm sure this makes many of you think of 1984, I think it would be nice if the trains were at least screened at least as well as the planes are. While I'm sure many of you will gripe about your rights, or that bush is hitler....no where in the constitution does it say you can get on public transportation without some type of security check. While I'm sure many of you think that falls under a "unreasonable search" I don't think it's unreasonable to require a background check/screening to get on a plane or train.