To: President Donald Trump, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA-1), Sen. Charles Grassley (IA-1), Sen. Lindsey Graham (SC-1), Sen. Patrick Leahy (VT-1), The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate

US Congress and President: Fix the Indefinite Detention and Unconstitutional Parts of the NDAA 2012

Honorable Senators and Representatives and Mr. President


I am a US citizen and support protection of our people from attack and criminal action. And I believe that no crime or action is so egregious that Constitutional rights should be denied for the accused.



Sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act 2012 are contrary to the rights granted in the 5th and 6th Amendments to the US Constitution and therefore unacceptable. Those Sections authorize indefinite detention, trial by military commission and transfer of people to foreign governments without protection of the rights granted in those Constitutional Amendments.



Sections 1021 and 1022 in their definition of “Covered Persons” use words that are very wide reaching and do not clearly describe what actions create offense. There is fear these provisions may be used by the Government to suppress people who speak against its policies or actions in violation of Constitutional rights of free speech and assembly and to petition.


In my opinion, The Due Process Guarantee Act of 2011 (S 2003 and HR 3702) and the bill to repeal Section 1021 of the NDAA (HR 3785) speak to the objective of this petition and are worthy of support.

I therefore urge you, our United States Congressional Representatives and President of the United States, to act in compliance with your oath to support and defend the US Constitution and Fix the NDAA 2012;

To support laws to change the parts of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 that are contrary to our 5th and 6th Amendment Constitutional rights. Specifically the parts of Sections 1021 and 1022 that authorize detention without trial of any person, trial by military court and transfer to a foreign country of US citizens and legal residents. And specifically including the Constitutional rights to defense counsel, due process and speedy and public trial by impartial jury in the State where the crime was committed;

And to, in listing acts that bring people under the definition of "COVERED PERSONS", be narrow, reasonable and clear in describing those offensive acts.Thank you.


Sincerely,

Why is this important?

On March 1, 2012, Indefinite Detention became the law of the land! There are reasons to fear it will be used to restrict freedom of speech and assembly of US citizens. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA 2012), now authorizes the US government to treat suspected terrorists by a different standard. Under this law, people, even US citizens, can be detained indefinitely by the US military and, according to recent statements by US Attorney General Eric Holder, even killed without a trial to prove their guilt. They can also be tried by a Military Commission (fewer due process rights and the Judge and “Jury” are military officers) and can be sent into the custody of foreign governments. These provisions are contrary to Constitutionally granted 5th and 6th Amendment rights of legal counsel, due process and speedy and public trial by an impartial jury.

This petition asks the US Congress and the President, in compliance with their oath to support and defend the Constitution, to change the provisions of NDAA 2012 that authorize Government actions that are in violation of our Constitutional rights.

For more information go to ReviveOurConstitution.com