Sacrificing Freedom for Security

It's the Memorial Day holiday which means it is another "No Refusal Weekend" for law enforcement across the state and country.

"No refusal" simply means that should you find yourself stopped, under suspicion of DWI, and then arrested for same, despite your refusal (however polite and well articulated) to provide a breath or blood test at the invitation of law enforcement, your blood will be forcibly drawn from your body.  Where unauthorized by statute (the taking of a blood sample despite an accused's refusal is permissible in some cases), police will obtain search warrants from judges who have volunteered to be awakened at all hours of the night this weekend for this specific purpose.

 My very real fear, conjured by these political/law enforcement campaigns, is that our country is willing to sacrifice our liberty and freedoms for a temporary sense of security.  This is not a new fear.  After all, it was Benjamin Franklin who said, "Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor deserve, either one."
As May draws to an end The Patriot Act is again a major focus in Congress. Three provisions of the Patriot Act are expiring at the end of this month.  For almost ten years now the Patriot Act has given the government too much leeway to pry into our private lives.  While I have no doubt that the original purpose of the Patriot Act was to protect our country (and what person, by the way, could vote against something called "The Patriot Act" without severe criticism from the fear driven majority), that Act has curtailed our constitutional freedoms for which so many died. 

Take some time this Memorial Day and think for a moment about what it was for that so many of our countrymen sacrificed and continue to do today. If you know a veteran, say thank you.  Educate yourself about the provisions of the Patriot Act, contact your congressman, and remember, no matter what they call it, you can still refuse.  Just because the police get a search warrant doesn't mean it's over - they have to do everything procedurally and constitutionally correct...