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43 °F 5 Day Forecast Wednesday, November 26, 2003 --> Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend October 16, 2003 County panel looks at Patriot Act By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Jackson County commissioners could soon join other local governments throughout the country in opposing provisions of the Patriot Act that infringe on civil liberties. At a Wednesday board meeting, Commissioners Sue Kupillas and Dave Gilmour expressed reservations over the act’s potential to trample constitutional rights. "The concern is that we don’t want to set the stage for abuses," said Gilmour. "This is one situation where the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and the NRA (National Rifle Association) are coming to the same conclusions." Kupillas expressed concern over the potential to track records of patrons in the county library system, noting that it is important to protect an individual’s rights. Advertisement Commissioner Jack Walker, who supports the Patriot Act and plans to push for a county resolution on the issue, said the United States faces a threat that can be likened to the attack on Pearl Harbor, which led to the internment of Japanese-American citizens. "This is not a war like we’ve had in the past," he said. Brenda Gould, a member of the Medford-based group Citizens for Peace and Justice, urged the commissioners to support the Bill of Rights and oppose the Patriot Act. In the United States, 194 local governments, including Ashland, Talent and Lane and Benton counties in Oregon, have adopted resolutions opposing the act. The U.S. Senate is also pushing a bill that would limit provisions of the Patriot Act. Bill Mansfield, a member of the Citizens for Peace and Justice, said his organization plans to reach out to conservative groups like the NRA that also have concerns about the Patriot Act. "It looks like we’re going to be bedfellows on this," he said. The Patriot Act violates Oregon law, which requires that people be notified if their property or records are being searched by law enforcement agencies, said Mansfield. But the act, he said, violates numerous sections of federal code that date back to the founding of the country. His organization would like the county to adopt a resolution similar to Ashland’s and others that would instruct county staff not to participate or enforce certain provisions of the act. Specifically, the county wouldn’t participate in searches where individuals aren’t notified. County staff wouldn’t take part in general surveillance activities as opposed to surveillance justified by probably cause. Also searches would not be made unless probable cause can be shown, said Mansfield. Sheriff Mike Winters, discussing the issue with Walker after the meeting, also expressed concern about enforcing certain aspects of the Patriot Act, saying law enforcement must walk a delicate line between enforcing the law and upholding a citizen’s rights. Curt Chancler, a spokesperson for the conservative government watchdog organization known as the Jackson County Citizens Group, said, "The Patriot Act is one of the most heinous things that could happen to this country." The potential to violate civil liberties because of the act is cause for concern among organizations of various political stripes, he said. "We are going to see the left, right and center pulling together on this," said Chancler. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times