"how do you enforce what some have obviously chosen to ignore?"
Huh? Would you care to re-think your question?
Is your answer more and more laws for them to ignore? That will put more restrictions on those of us who obey laws.
Put them in prison whey they break the law and get rid of parole boards relative to violent offenders!
There is one basic reason politicians pass laws and that is to make us "feel good" and shows us they are doing something about it. Why do you suppose that many criminal laws have "loopholes" in them?
You do know the p.a.t.r.i.o.t. law was passed overwhelmingly by both houses and they didn't even read it because it was not in PRINTED form when they voted on it?
Politiciana, at best, are self-serving and, at worst, are duplicitous.
Poet, I'm not intentionally trying to be "dense," but I'm not willing to believe that John Ashcroft is a traitor to our country. If he felt that things could be done through normal channels, then I think he'd be the first to use them. He obviously feels there are some "considerations" to be taken into account. When you're up to your behind in allegators...he's got to find out as much as he can with all systems down. Do you really believe the INS can account for the whereabouts of all those who would do us harm? I don't. Do you really think we can completely close down the borders? I don't. Do you think we can prosecute these cases under normal law without giving away the store to the rest of the terrorists back home? I don't. Do you really think the F.B.I. and the C.I.A. hate us and want to destroy us? I don't. Do you really think America can go back to every State for itself? I don't. Things have evolved. Emergencies come up. I have rules at my house that I have to suspend depending on the current crisis. Would that there weren't so many crises, but flexibility is a key element to survival in the 21st Century in my home. I wouldn't expect the government to be this big inflexible beast, incapable of morphing to meet the crisis. Why do you? You talk like my 17 year-old son (whom I adore). He asks why was it okay then, and not now? I reply because it is now and not then. When then returns, it'll be okay again. Much love to all of you. Thank you with all my heart for vigilently caring.