Patriot Act Form Letter

January 26, 2006

[Date]

Hon. [Name]
Address

Re: Reauthorization of USA Patriot Act

Dear Representative/Senator [Name],

      As a booksellers and a constituent, I am writing to urge you to reject the conference report reauthorizing the expiring provisions of the USA Patriot Act (H.R. 3199). Both the House and Senate have voted to restore safeguards for reader privacy that were eliminated by the USA Patriot Act. However, H.R. 3199 lacks crucial safeguards that would eliminate the danger of FBI fishing expeditions in bookstore and library records.

      H.R. 3199 continues to give the FBI access to all bookstore and library records that may be "relevant" to a terrorism investigation, including the records of people who are not suspected of any crime and have no connection to a person suspected of terrorism. Any bill extending Section 215 should limit FBI searches to the records of people who are suspected of terrorism and people who are in contact with them.

      H.R. 3199 also continues to gag recipients of Section 215 orders. While a temporary ban on disclosing a search order may be justified in some circumstances, booksellers and librarians must have the right to challenge the scope and duration of any gag that limits their First Amendment right to engage in public debate over Section 215.

      I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this issue.

      Thank you.

Sincerely yours,     

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