Since September 11, the ability of American law enforcement to stop terrorist attacks has been improved tremendously by the Patriot Act. This essential legislation broke down the barriers between the many government agencies tasked with protecting our homeland and made the same tools used in investigating organized crime and drug cases applicable to counterterrorism. But from its very beginning, some opponents of the Patriot Act tried to portray it as an unacceptable violation of individual freedoms and civil liberties, despite the extensive legal restraints and protections written into its text. Now some Senators are threatening to undermine the capacity of law enforcement to protect American citizens by stripping away some of the most important provisions of the Patriot Act. Since December, 2005, the Patriot Act has been extended by only 30 day periods that offer no certainty and comfort to the many defenders of liberty that rely upon it. Without additional extensions, it will expire in early March and potential terrorists will be better able to carry out their deadly work. It\'s time for Americans to stand up and tell Congress that our security is not a political matter. It\'s not a subject for interest-group advocacy and it\'s not a tool to boost polling results. On March 1, Family Security Matters will be sending this petition to both the House of Representatives and to the Senate, letting all our legislators know that the American people not only support, but actually demand a long-term extension of the Patriot Act.

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