[michaelje]

XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUNDAY NOV 18 2001 19:25:37 ET XXXXX

DNA IN THE USA: PATRIOT ACT ALLOWS FORMATION OF DATABASE

The United States will soon begin construction on a giant database containing DNA codes of criminal offenders.

Buried in the USA Patriot Act -- signed into law by President Bush last month -- is a provision that allows for the government collection of a person's DNA for "qualifying Federal offenses, as determined by the Attorney General."

The DNA development has gone unreported in the nation's mainpress.

Section 503 of the Patriot Act now requires persons convicted of terrorism offenses and other crimes of violence to submit to DNA samples.

"The [DNA] database will be a powerful new tool for law enforcement and crime prevention," an administration official told the DRUDGE REPORT last week.

Under prior law, the statutory provisions governing the collection of DNA samples from federal offenders have been restrictive.

A 30-page Field Guidance of New Authorities issued by the Justice Department states the "collection of DNA samples from federal offenders" extends "to all federal offenders convicted of the types of offenses that are likely to be committed by terrorists or any crime of violence."

Specifics on the deployment of the database could not be obtained as this transmits.

Developing...

----------------------------------------------------------- Filed by Matt Drudge Reports are moved when circumstances warrant http://www.drudgereport.com for updates (c)DRUDGE REPORT 2001

[mass55th]

This is no big deal. Some states, like New York already require convicts to give up a sample of blood for DNA database purposes.

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

oh no! tyranny! tyranny! the government's out to get us! < /sarcasm >

[buffyt]

Big Brother is going to get us all. Sure this is OK now, until we get a really liberal president like Hillary who will use this, and the new eavesdropping on enemies, and reading of emails, and searching of our homes against us...

[ICE-FLYER]

I am in the greatest support of the president and all the efforts underway to stop terrorism and to defeat those enemies of our nation from within and without. I have spent my professional career as a USAF pilot and would not hesitate when called upon, especially by this Commander-In-Chief, however I do not like this DNA database one bit.

I am already cataloged and do not at all like it. By the claim of determining my remains in the case of an aircraft crash I have been DNA printed. I have no say in the matter. My unique genetic code is locked up somewhere in Virginia and I have no knowledge of where, no idea what will happen to its record when I get out of the military and apparently no say in the matter either.

I have no faith whatsoever that it will be given back to me with no record of it kept by the government. As a matter of fact, I am willing to believe that it will become part of this "database" devised under the "Patriot" bill and am sickened by it.

It IS a matter of great privacy and information ripe for serious and irreparable abuse. Mistaken ID's are bad enough, one mistake with this data and I could all of a sudden be a "Criminal" of the federal government and the public would automatically believe my guilt, after all, I am a DNA match.

I am greatly trusting of our form of government, but very distrusting of the intentions of many people in it. I see this slipping slope from which one step into we will not recover from. It will evolve into all felony offenses, then all state level crimes, then all offenses aside from being pulled over for going too fast or illegal parking. All those who cherish the RIGHT to a gun will soon have to provide a sample for their "Protection". Right. Protection from who and what???

I see it as a very bad idea going in a direction we will only wish we did not go.

I am willing to hear arguments against my reasons, but remember, you shred my individual right to privacy and security when for any reason I have to submit to you so as to NOT be considered a bad guy, because in the end I believe that this is where it will go, Born day one, blood sample for tests and DNA sample, and social security card number. Or you don't leave with the states newest citizen.

[steve-b]

The United States will soon begin construction on a giant database containing DNA codes of criminal offenders.

If Danny Williams ever gets into trouble, we'll finally find out for sure.

[another1]

How often are false charges of violence and abuse used as retribution in divorce and custody cases? Seems like there are a lot of bogus situations, including malicious false claims that could put just about anybody and everybody on the DNA list - but that is the point, isn't it?

[realpatriot71]

as determined by the Attorney General

Cute, let the man who orchestrated the assualt on our rights, be in charge of who does and who doesn't go in the database. Why does this not make me feel to good?