Chuck Schumer: “I rise in reluctant, but considered, opposition to the amendment of my good friend from California. This is a good…”

“I rise in reluctant, but considered, opposition to the amendment of my good friend from California. This is a good debate because in our brave new post-9/11 world, we have to balance liberty and security and, obviously, some adjustments have to be made. The Founding Fathers knew that in times of war, in times of crisis, security might gain a little. I do not think this is an issue of security versus liberty, though. I do think it is an issue of the new technologies that are available and allows individuals or small groups of individuals unknown before to do real damage to America. Then 10 years ago, you knew who was going to hurt you. It would be a nation. It would be an established group of terrorists. But today, any small group can pop up, even individuals, and do such damage.”