ACTION

Congress revokes your Constitutional right to privacy

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has passed legislation that allows government spying on you, and is, as Congressman Justin Amash (R-Mi) says, "...one of the most egregious sections of law I've encountered during my time as a representative."  Passing the House on a voice vote (over the objections of Amash), Section 309 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2015 provides "the first statutory authority for the acquisition, retention, and dissemination of US persons' private communications obtained without legal process such as a court order or a subpoena." This means that every electronic conversation you have will be recorded by the government.

The bill, HR 4681, says, "The procedures required by paragraph (1) shall apply to any intelligence collection activity not otherwise authorized by court order..., subpoena, or similar legal process that is reasonably anticipated to result in the acquisition of a covered communication to or from a United States person and shall permit the acquisition, retention, and dissemination of covered communications subject to the limitation in subparagraph (B)." A covered communication is defined as "any nonpublic telephone or electronic communication acquired without the consent of a person who is a party to the communication, including communications in electronic storage."

The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution states: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects,against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." What probable cause does the government have to acquire all of our electronic communications? Our Bill of Rights was established to protect American citizens from an overreaching government. These tyrants in Congress and at the White House have usurped the Constitution and run roughshod over our rights.

I know many Christians believe that we just have to "Render unto Caesar." Wake up! There is no Caesar in a Constitutional Republic. Our founders gave us a say in our government. Lawless people will riot over lies, why won't law abiding people exercise their right to peaceably assemble? Voting out politicians and electing others, doesn't guarantee the job is done. Our forefathers came to this country to worship freely. They established freedom. They would be the first to rise up and claim Galatians 5:1 over the land, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." It is wiser to stand against bondage before you are forced into it.