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The goal of this federal law was to strengthen the hands of intelligence agencies in areas like roving wiretaps and government spying.
It is viewed by many as a law that provided sweeping powers to the federal government, specifically the U.S. Justice Department.
There is a unique political coalition of liberals and conservatives who contend the USA Patriot Act gives big brother too much power. They argue it is one thing to have a secure homeland. It is much different when the powerful reach of the federal government achieves this by taking away Americans' rights.
Some of these controversial provisions must be reauthorized before the end of the year.
The USA Patriot Act was passed as "feel-good" legislation, giving politicians the opportunity to show the American people they had the common sense to immediately respond to 9/11.
With some of the legal questions surrounding the USA Patriot Act, why would Ohio want its own Patriot Act?
The Ohio Patriot Act is proposed by state Sen. Jeff Jacobson, R-Dayton.
"Recent headlines describing alleged terror plots at central Ohio shopping malls and lasers targeting airliner cockpits in Cleveland are chilling reminders that terrorism is not an issue that can be dealt with once and for all," Jacobson told The Columbus Dispatch.
"Just as terrorists evolve and adapt their strategies over time, we must also revise and update our laws to avoid any future attacks and to ensure the safety of every Ohio citizens," he said.
This is not a reason for the Ohio Patriot Act.
Federal investigators, along with local police, sniffed out the suspected plot against malls in the Columbus area. The feds and local police work together whether it is Columbus or Lake County, home of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant.
Also, the federal Transportation Department and the Department of Homeland Security would work in tandem on airline security. The state does not have a role in cockpit security.
The day foreign terrorists unleashed their hate on America's homeland, the U.S. started the war on terrorism.
It has been the nation's foreign and national security policy since we invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 to send the Taliban packing and put the al-Qaida terrorist network on the run.
The point is this is a function of the federal government.
Jacobson's bill, which does not have a state House sponsor yet, will get a fifth round of testimony on Wednesday. While it makes sense for state senators to take their time to consider the bill, it must not become Ohio law. Ohio does not need a foreign or national security policy.
The bill has a provision that makes sense. Part of the bill calls for enhancing security at small and private airports.
Jacobson said other states have similar laws. This is not a reason for Ohio to act.
Some of the bill's provisions include:
n Prohibiting people who are near "terrorist-sensitive sites," like bridges and utility plants, from refusing to give an identification to police once it is requested.
n Calling on every applicant for an Ohio driver's license to identify if they have had any connection to a terrorist organization.
The bill also mandates the Immigration and Naturalization Service to take certain convicted prisoners in Ohio once an illegal alien has served his sentence.
"The feds can makes rules that apply to Ohio. Ohio can't make laws that apply to the feds," said Jeff Gamso, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio.
He noted the legislative analysis of the bill, which shows that acts of terrorism have historically been rare in the state of Ohio.
Also, should acts of terrorism as defined in the bill occur, it is most likely the federal government would take the lead in such matters under its terrorism laws.
So why propose the Ohio Patriot Act at all?
