Schenectady, NY Resolution

City Council
Schenectady, New York

Resolution No. 2003-149

WHEREAS, the Schenectady City Council recognizes the Constitution of the United States as our charter of liberty, and that the Bill of Rights enshrines the fundamental and inalienable rights of America, including freedoms of religion, speech, assembly, and privacy; and

WHEREAS, the Schenectady City Council denounces and condemns all acts of terrorism, wherever occurring; and

WHEREAS, attacks against Americans such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001, have necessitated several measures, including the crafting of effective laws, to protect the public from terrorist attacks; and

WHEREAS, any new security measures of federal, state, and local governments should be carefully designed and employed to enhance public safety without infringing on the civil liberties and rights of innocent citizens; and

WHEREAS, certain provisions of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, also known as the USA PATRIOT Act, allow the federal government to engage in surveillance, investigative, detention and other law enforcement activities that may violate or offend the established rights and liberties guaranteed by our state and federal constitutions; and

WHEREAS, various groups and officials from across the political spectrum, including the NAACP, Gun Owners of America, the ACLU, and the American Conservative Union, as well as Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Democratic Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, have questioned whether the USA PATRIOT Act as interpreted by the U.S. Department of Justice properly protects our citizens' rights and liberties; and

BE IT RESOLVED that the Schenectady City Council supports the government of the United States of America in its campaign against terrorism, and affirms its commitment that the campaign not be waged at the expense of essential civil rights and liberties of citizens of this country contained in the United States Constitution and the Bill of rights; and be it therefore,

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Schenectady City Council implores the United States Congress to continue its review of the effects of the USA PATRIOT Act and to correct provisions in the USA PATRIOT ACT that infringe on established civil liberties; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Schenectady City Council opposes any future federal legislation to the extent that it infringes on Americans' established civil rights and liberties.