(Washington, D.C., June 14, 2000) --- In a memorandum to members of Gays and Lesbians for Individual Liberty (GLIL), the organization's president today expressed his concerns over a bill that is currently under consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives, after it was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate last fall. According to GLIL President Richard Sincere, HR2987 (known as the "Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act" contains obscure provisions that constitute a "ticking time bomb, ready to blow up in our faces and undermine the protections we enjoy under the First and Fourth Amendments in the Constitution."
Sincere noted that the bill, sponsored in the Senate by Democrat Dianne Feinstein and Republican Orrin Hatch, would allow federal agents to search a person's home without a warrant and without informing the homeowner for as long as six months.† During such a search, the FBI or other government agency could copy computer files and financial documents and take photographs of one's belongings without notifying the subject of the investigation.
"This is a clear violation of the Fourth Amendment's prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures," said Sincere.† "Even the vociferous supporter of the drug war, Georgia Republican Congressman Bob Barr, has stated that this 'sneak-and-peek' provision in the bill is 'certainly not the way to conduct business when you're dealing with people's liberties.'"
In terms of free speech rights, the bill would create a new felony, punishable by ten years in prison, for the "illegal distribution of information," such as advertising (even indirectly) drug paraphenalia or "teach[ing] or demonstrat[ing] to any person the manufacture of a controlled substance."
"Legal experts argue persuasively that this provision of HR2987 could be used to prosecute someone who explains to AIDS patients or cancer victims methods of growing medicinal marijuana to relieve their symptoms," said Sincere, a cancer survivor.† "It also means that a link from a personal web site to one that advertises homemade pipes and bongs (or one that links to still another site that does so) could land an innocent person in jail, simply for exercising his inherent right to free speech."
Sincere said that GLIL is urging its members to contact their representatives in Congress to find out how they plan to vote on HR2987, and whether they are fully informed of the unconstitutional provisions in the proposed law.
Gays and Lesbians for Individual Liberty was founded in February 1991 to advance the ideas of economic and personal freedom and individual responsibility. It has members across the United States and in several foreign countries. For more information, visit http://www.glil.org or telephone 202-903-5555.
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