16 year old in custody under the Patriot Act

The USAPATRIOTACT is a disgusting excuse of heightened national security laws. It trumps over our basic constitutional and human rights. It needs to go.

No, this incident does not appear to qualify and is very disturbing to say the least. Making threats via the internet isn't something new and it's always been dealt with by law enforcement in a routine fashion that did not include your basic constitutional rights being removed under the guise of the Patriot Act. Keep us updated, Lil, if you learn anything else.

This just does not make any sense. Okay I get it that the 16 year old might have done something on the ignorant side of life, but what exactly is the crime he committed? Why is a threat a crime in the first place. I could say to you, Lilwonders that I am coming to steal all your candy, now that is a threat but hopefully you will not call the FBI on me. Yes the Patriot act has been abused but simply having a Patriot act is an abuse of the Constitution.

I hear stories like this a lot, but have yet to find a verifiable one. I know the ACLU has been posting things about abuses and challenging parts of the Patriot Act in behalf of groups, but I haven't found any ACLU articles that talk about any specific American whose rights have been violated. The ACLU's website has an article called, "ACLU Releases Comprehensive Report On Patriot Act Abuses".. this comprehensive report lists a lot of generalities and ways the PA could be used against individuals... but there isn't a single case listed of someone being imprisoned or punished without trial under the PA. The website also has a link to a "Fact Sheet", with all sorts of interesting information about the Patriot Act and possible abuses under it... but that also fails to list any situations where someone was imprisoned or punished without trial. There have been challenges to the Patriot Act, some were without merit, but others were very important. The PA is a great example of why legislation should never be passed without debate and discussion prior to its enactment. The Patriot Act has been in affect since 2003, since then we have been told all sorts of horror stories about what "could happen" or "might happen", but even the ACLU can't seem to find a case where an individual was the victim of the horror stories. This doesn't mean they can't happen, or that the PA shouldn't stand a lot of scrutiny. Most of the provisions in the PA have "sunset" dates, and Congress should look over the years they were in effect to determine if they were effective at all. Those that haven't been effective should be allowed to "sunset".. those that have been effective should be revised to be in full compliance with the Constitution, and also to make them more applicable to the threats of today and the future. http://www.aclu.org/safefree/patriot/38979prs20090311.html

i totally agree with you. the child has every right to appear before the court. i am totally astounded with this news. a very helpless child being held up and kept like a dangerous terrorist even they have not seen any proof. what is coming to the justice system of the US. i expect more humanly treatment in US.

I agree. This definitely shows why we need to get rid of the Patriot Act. Even if the guy really did make those threats, I hardly think he's an 'enemy combatant' despite how wrong it was. There should be nothing in place that supercedes the Constitution and can easily strip someone of their constitutionally guaranteed rights.