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Ron Paul on Civil Liberties and Domestic Security

Civil liberties are the freedoms and rights that protect individuals from government abuse. Civil liberty and domestic security concerns generally involve the rights granted to the federal government to involve them self in the private lives of citizens. With a greater concern for terrorism in the US and an increase in technological capacity for surveillance, this issue has played a large role in US foreign and domestic policy. This topic includes information about candidate positions on such issues as: the Patriot Act, the federal government's surveillance powers, and rights of Guantanamo Bay detainees.

The issues

Ron Paul strongly opposes the 2006 extension of the Patriot Act

Voted NO on making the PATRIOT Act permanent.

USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act; Bill HR 3199 ; vote number 2005-627 on Dec 14, 2005

Q: "You've been outspoken against the Real ID and the Patriot Act, why is that?" PAUL: "Because it undermines civil liberties..."

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Ron Paul strongly opposes giving the federal government more domestic surveillance power

Voted NO on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant. Amends the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) to allow the President & Attorney General to authorize electronic surveillance without a court order to acquire foreign intelligence information, after certifying that the surveillance is directed at the acquisition of communications of foreign agents.

Update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978; Bill H.R.5825 ; vote number 2006-502 on Sep 28, 2006

Voted NO on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight. A resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5020) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities. Voting YES indicates support of the current methods for intelligence-gathering used by the CIA and other agencies.

Intelligence Authorization Act; Bill HR 5020 resolution H RES 774 ; vote number 2006-108 on Apr 26, 2006

"Of course most governments, including our own, cannot resist the temptation to spy on their citizens when it suits government purposes. But America is supposed to be different. We have a mechanism called the Constitution that is supposed to place limits on the power of the federal government. Why does the Constitution have an enumerated powers clause, if the government can do things wildly beyond those powers - such as establish a domestic spying program? Why have a 4th Amendment, if it does not prohibit government from eavesdropping on phone calls without telling anyone?"

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Ron Paul strongly supports extending the right of habeas corpus to Guantanamo detainees

"If we can't deny habeas corpus it infers that you have habeas corpus. So I would strongly disagree with his whole interpretation of habeas corpus...[As for whether that extends to non US citizens in US custody overseas]. I think that might depend upon the circumstances of declared war, and what the circumstances might be...[In the case of Guantanamo detainees,] I would think then that we should, under those circumstances, follow the principles of habeas corpus."

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"Increasing presidential powers is rather disturbing to me. Don't we remember that when you sacrifice liberty for security, you lose both? That's what's happening in this country today. We have a national ID being implemented right now. We have warrantles searches. We've lost habeas corpus. We've had secret prisons & we have torture going on. That's un-American, and we need to use the power of the presidency to get it back in order, in order to take care of us and protect this country & our liberties."

2007 GOP debate at UNH, sponsored by Fox News Sep 5, 2007

Ron Paul strongly opposes the use of interrogation methods that cause physical or emotional suffering

"The American people and government should never abide the use of torture by our military or intelligence agencies."

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