Reading over your shoulder

The opposition spans left and right. The American Civil Liberties Union has challenged the law in federal court, while some conservative groups are also against it. Opponents include the American Conservative Union, Americans for Tax Reform, Gun Owners of America, Phyllis Schlafly's Eagle Forum, and Paul M. Weyrich's Free Congress Foundation.

Former Republican congressman Bob Barr -- a board member of the National Rifle Association -- has been active in the fight against the Patriot Act. In a telephone interview from his Georgia office, Barr said Section 215 "stands for the proposition that we don't have to abide by the old Fourth Amendment standards that require the government to show that before we gather evidence on someone there be a good reason to suspect the person has done something wrong. The government now takes the position that it can gather evidence on anyone it wants simply because it is fighting terrorism. It poses a danger to the rights of free speech, political expression, and assembly."

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