Thursday, May 01, 2003
Press Release from the PNBA:
Northwest Booksellers Petition Government to Repeal
Section 215 of the U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act
On behalf of booksellers in five Northwest states, the Pacific Northwest
Booksellers Association has sent a petition to all United States
Congressional Representatives from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and
Washington urging them to support House Bill #1157 to repeal Section 215 of
the U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act.
The PNBA's board of directors voted unanimously March 13th to approve a
resolution condemning Section 215 of the Patriot Act, saying it "denies
booksellers free speech rights and immediate access to legal counsel when
contacted by law enforcement" and is "a present danger to the
constitutional rights and privacy rights of bookstore customers and
booksellers."
The PNBA then distributed a "Dear Member of Congress" letter to its 215
bookstore members. Ninety-six Northwest bookstores returned petitions,
containing 516 signatures of owners, managers and staff. "Our member
booksellers are an eclectic group, representing an enormous range of
political and philosophical perspectives," said Thom Chambliss, Executive
Director of the PNBA. "They have, with tremendous solidarity, come together
to express their opposition to Section 215 of the Patriot Act."
The PNBA is pleased that Congressman C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID) is a sponsor
of HR 1157, which will remove the most egregious parts of Section 215, and
that representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rick
Larsen (D-WA), and Jim McDermott (D-WA) have added their names as
co-sponsors. "We now urge the rest of our Northwest delegates to add their
names in support of HR 1157, and request that our Senators support similar
legislation in the Senate," said Chambliss.
Free speech and preservation of first Amendment rights are key parts of
PNBA's mission. The Association was founded in 1965 as a voluntary,
non-profit organization "to promote good and just business practices, to
preserve First Amendment rights, to provide public access to the widest
range of information and ideas, and to identify and promote booksellers as
a community resource providing personal service."
The PNBA supports the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression,
which worked closely with Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to draft and promote
HR 1157.
Text of the PNBA's resolution and letter to Congress are available on-line
at http://www.pnba.org/booknewsreview215res.htm and
http://www.pnba.org/booknewsrepeal215thom.htm.
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Northwest Booksellers Petition Government to Repeal
Section 215 of the U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act
On behalf of booksellers in five Northwest states, the Pacific Northwest
Booksellers Association has sent a petition to all United States
Congressional Representatives from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and
Washington urging them to support House Bill #1157 to repeal Section 215 of
the U.S.A. P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act.
The PNBA's board of directors voted unanimously March 13th to approve a
resolution condemning Section 215 of the Patriot Act, saying it "denies
booksellers free speech rights and immediate access to legal counsel when
contacted by law enforcement" and is "a present danger to the
constitutional rights and privacy rights of bookstore customers and
booksellers."
The PNBA then distributed a "Dear Member of Congress" letter to its 215
bookstore members. Ninety-six Northwest bookstores returned petitions,
containing 516 signatures of owners, managers and staff. "Our member
booksellers are an eclectic group, representing an enormous range of
political and philosophical perspectives," said Thom Chambliss, Executive
Director of the PNBA. "They have, with tremendous solidarity, come together
to express their opposition to Section 215 of the Patriot Act."
The PNBA is pleased that Congressman C.L. "Butch" Otter (R-ID) is a sponsor
of HR 1157, which will remove the most egregious parts of Section 215, and
that representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rick
Larsen (D-WA), and Jim McDermott (D-WA) have added their names as
co-sponsors. "We now urge the rest of our Northwest delegates to add their
names in support of HR 1157, and request that our Senators support similar
legislation in the Senate," said Chambliss.
Free speech and preservation of first Amendment rights are key parts of
PNBA's mission. The Association was founded in 1965 as a voluntary,
non-profit organization "to promote good and just business practices, to
preserve First Amendment rights, to provide public access to the widest
range of information and ideas, and to identify and promote booksellers as
a community resource providing personal service."
The PNBA supports the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression,
which worked closely with Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to draft and promote
HR 1157.
Text of the PNBA's resolution and letter to Congress are available on-line
at http://www.pnba.org/booknewsreview215res.htm and
http://www.pnba.org/booknewsrepeal215thom.htm.
