RESOLUTION NO. 2003-1087
A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT OF EFFORTS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GATHER INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP PREVENT ACTS OF TERRORISM; REAFFIRMING THE CITY'S SUPPORT OF THE RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS GUARANTEED BY THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION; AND URGING CONGRESS TO REEXAMINE PROVISIONS OF THE USA PATRIOT ACT
WHEREAS, in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Congress enacted the USA PATRIOT Act (hereafter, the ""Act""); and
WHEREAS, at the time of the passage of the Act, Congress felt that it was necessary to provide federal intelligence and law enforcement personnel with more and improved tools to gather information about persons suspected of engaging in terrorist acts against the United States; and
WHEREAS, since the passage of the Act, there have been a number of people who have concerns that the provisions of the Act may go too far and allow the gathering of such information at the expense of the rights guaranteed in the United States Constitution; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has been petitioned by many of its citizens to go on record as supporting these constitutional rights and to urge Congress to reexamine the Act to see if it should be amended in order to allow the gathering of information to occur within a framework of protections designed to preserve those fundamental rights.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY of the City of
Farmington, that:
(1) The City of Farmington City Council and its citizens support efforts by the federal government to gather information that will help prevent acts of terrorism and that will aid in the arrest and prosecution of those involved in perpetrating such acts.
(2) The City Council and its citizens also believe that such efforts must be conducted while observing the rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Bill of Rights and other provisions of the United States Constitution.
(3) The City Council hereby urges Congress to conduct a reexamination of the Act to see if any of the provisions of the Act need to be repealed or revised in order to ensure that these fundamental rights are honored and preserved.
PASSED, APPROVED, SIGNED AND ADOPTED this 19th day of August, 2003.