According to exclusive information from Breitbart News, 30 House Republicans sent a letter to House Republican leadership on Tuesday, saying that Americans should be protected while the House considers reauthorizing controversial government surveillance programs. He called for the protection of Second Amendment rights.
House Republicans, led by Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), warned that “innocent, law-abiding gun owners’ Second and Fourth Amendment rights will be protected from the Biden administration’s exploitation of lawless government surveillance loopholes. I am writing to urge them to protect their rights.” An ardent privacy advocate, he sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) and House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana).
The letter comes as the House moves closer to voting on a bill to reauthorize Section 702 of the controversial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Conservatives argue that given the number of government abuses, privacy reform must go further than simply reforming Section 702 abuses.
Conservatives say federal agencies and other law enforcement agencies have for years circumvented the Fourth Amendment by purchasing Americans’ personal information, including phone location data, through data brokers. Lawmakers wrote that this not only undermines Americans’ privacy, but also violates the spirit of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986.
These agencies typically require a judge-issued warrant before forcing phone companies and technology companies to hand over customer location data. But creative government lawyers have ruled that the Fourth Amendment does not apply to Americans’ sensitive personal data when the government purchases data from data brokers. Government agencies’ exploitation of loopholes in this law poses a serious threat to Americans’ privacy. This further defeats Congress’ clear intent to protect exactly this type of sensitive information through the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986. Location information and other personal information about Americans’ lives, such as where they pray and where and when they drive their children. Have you ever visited a school, gun store or shooting range?
Video: Congressman Warren Davidson calls for amendment to ban the Department of Defense from circumventing the Fourth Amendment
US House of Representatives
The lawmakers also noted that the government’s purchase of personal data from data brokers is of particular concern to law-abiding Americans.
Threats to Americans’ Second and Fourth Amendment rights are not limited to government purchases of location data. Commercial data brokers openly sell marketing lists containing names, addresses, and other personal information that identify “gun owners” and “shooting fanatics,” as well as “Concealed Carry – Licensed Gun Owners.” ” and specialized lists such as “Wealthy Gun Owners.” and “70 and older. Elderly gun owners.” Unfortunately, there is a loophole in the same law. The Biden administration’s acceptance of the purchase of Americans’ location data could similarly apply to the purchase of commercial lists identifying gun owners. [Emphasis added]
Take a look — Rep. Andy Biggs: CDC bought $420,000 worth of data to monitor Americans during coronavirus pandemic
US House of Representatives
30 House conservatives say the bill the House is considering to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) would not allow data broker loopholes, given that Congress is a “once-in-a-generation” policy. He said it was “extremely important” to plug it. An opportunity to protect Americans’ “right to privacy.” Lawmakers said the House Judiciary Committee has approved two bills, the Fourth Amendment Not for Sale Act proposed by Davidson and the Protecting Liberty and Repealing Warrantless Surveillance Act led by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.). He pointed out that he had submitted it. Please end this controversial government practice.
The bill is not only supported by some of the House’s staunchest conservatives. Gun Owners of America (GOA) announced that it is calling on all members of Congress to sign the Davidson letter and protect Americans’ Second Amendment rights. They also support Davidson’s Fourth Amendment Not for Sale law. The National Gun Rights Association also supports the move.
“For decades, Congress has legally protected Americans’ right to own guns. But if the Biden administration is allowed to continue this brazen surveillance of Americans without a court order, “Decades of privacy laws will continue in name,” the lawmakers concluded in a letter to Johnson and Scalise.
Sean Moran is a policy reporter at Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter @SeanMoran3.
