Letter to the Editor

Your view: A police state

Monday, April 25, 2005

Dear Editor:

I was deeply saddened to see that Congresswoman Emerson supported and voted for HR 418- Real ID Act of 2005, which will establish a National ID Card through each state's license bureau.

The law establishes a federally coordinated data base that will share personal information on American citizens with Canada and Mexico. It authorizes the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to expand the information included in driver's licenses to include biometric information, such as retina scans, DNA information and even radio frequency identification. Also, this law further redefines terrorism in such broad new terms that could include members of firearms rights and pro-life groups or other such groups as determined by whoever is in power at the time. This bill was opposed by the National Governor's Association, as it violated the law on unfunded mandates. It was passed by a majority Republican vote in the House on February 10, 2005. To date, it has not come to a vote in the Senate.

Organizations that promoted this bill and who also donated to Congresswoman Emerson were the National Association of Realtors $7,000.00 National Auto Dealers Association $10,000.00, National Bill Wholesalers Association $10,000.00 and United Parcel Service $8,500.00. Source: Opensecrets.org

HR 418 offers us a false sense of greater security at the cost of taking a gigantic step toward making America a "police state".

Very truly yours, James M. McClellan