Combating Terror and Terrorist Acts

 The US Patriot Act
The Patriot Act (2001) was aimed at helping investigators address terrorist threats through access to different information and tools to combat the danger. The expiring provisions of the act were reauthorized by the USA Patriot Act Improvement and the Reauthorization Act of 2005. Moreover, the reauthorization happened multiple times due to the importance of the act itself and the investigative work facilitated through this legislation. With the new implementation, federal agents were less limited in tracking potentially dangerous individuals trained in avoiding detection. Moreover, the national security investigators acquired new tools which have been previously only used in criminal cases and were nuanced in mitigating national security issues. Law enforcement became entitled to obtain warrants without difficulties and obstacles, which helps monitor potentially dangerous entities and minimize the risks of terrorist attacks. Thus, the act itself allowed law enforcement to have more opportunities to combat some of the actions that have severely damaged America and needed to be addressed.

Homeland Security Act 2002
George W Bush, the former president of the US, approved the Homeland Security Act in 2002. This was undoubtedly facilitated by the threats and the direct attacks from 2001, which highlighted the country’s security problems. The formation of Homeland Security initiated the establishment of a new department in the executive branch. The department laid several measures that aimed at protecting the national security of the US. Apart from creating a new federal government organization with its own responsibilities, a cabinet-level secretary post, and multiple new jobs, the HS placed several agencies under the Department of Homeland Security wing. This ultimately allowed multiple services related to emergency preparedness, response, and national security to work as a unity and combat problems based on collective efforts.

Terrorist Risk insurance program Act of 2002
The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act was enacted into law in 2002 by Congress. This law facilitated entities and people who have experienced damages as a result of terrorist attacks to be able to receive compensation through insurance. The definition of acts of terrorism excluded acts of war, which means that only targeted attacks fall under the category. This law allowed insurance companies to expand the availability of terrorism insurance. This act expired in 2014; however, the program was renewed in 2015 by President Obama, which facilitated its continuation until 2020.

Without the Terrorist Risk Management Program Act, the rates of terrorist attacks targeting the US population would likely be higher. Despite Government officials’ efforts to reduce the possibility of such events damaging the USA, the risk has not been fully mitigated. Without this program, the insurance rates would be much higher, and the general population would not be able to safely protect themselves from possible damages due to the high costs.