Darien, CT – As Congress considers the future of the controversial USA PATRIOT Act, a leading supporter and a leading opponent will square off in a public forum at the Darien Town Hall Auditorium Sunday from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. U.S. Congressman Christopher Shays of Connecticut and former U.S. Congressman Bob Barr of Georgia will debate this landmark legislation, including the “sunset” provisions of the Act which are scheduled to expire this year plus the enhancements that have been proposed by the Bush Administration and are currently being considered in Congress. The event is co-sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut (ACLU-CT) and the Fairfield County chapter of Democracy for America.
“This forum comes at a critical moment in our nation’s history,” said Roger C. Vann, Executive Director of the ACLU-CT. “Congress must decide whether this Act, which was passed in great haste after the horrible events of 9/11, strikes the right balance between protecting us from domestic terrorists while guaranteeing the basic freedoms which have made this country great.”
Chris Shays, who represents Fairfield County’s 4th District in Congress, is chair of the House Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, one of the most active subcommittees on Capitol Hill. Focusing primarily on terrorism, the Subcommittee has looked extensively at domestic preparedness, response capabilities and military force protection. Shays is a strong supporter of the Patriot Act.
Bob Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, serving as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and as Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee. He is a frequent commentator on TV, radio, and in the press, and he serves on the boards of many conservative organizations. Barr was dubbed “Mr. Privacy” by New York Times columnist William Safire, and he is a strong opponent of portions of the Patriot Act.
“This is not a left/right issue, nor a Republican/Democratic one,” said John Hartwell, coordinator of the local DFA group. “As citizens we need to think about how our constitutional rights are affected when the country is threatened.”
The Darien Town Hall is located at 2 Renshaw Road, just off the Post Road near exit 11 on I-95. The forum is free and open to the public and will feature a question and answer period from the audience. The doors will open at noon, and ample parking is available.
June 20, 2005
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