Greenville Reporter

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. issued a statement expressing his concerns about the Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act, following his vote against the legislation. The bill, which passed 219-199-1, has raised significant debates regarding its impact on national security and community safety.

"Protecting our safety and security, while balancing our constitutional protection to privacy is a delicate task," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., highlighting the complex nature of the issue at hand.

The Congressman criticized the legislation, stating, "Instead of rectifying past abuses, this legislation destroys credible surveillance efforts and severely hinders our ability to intercept threats to our country and communities before they occur." He further emphasized the potential consequences, noting that the bill would restrict the acquisition and use of commercially available information that could be accessed by foreign entities like China, Russia, Iran, and terrorist organizations.

Murphy underscored the broader implications of the bill, pointing out that it could significantly impede the intelligence community's efforts to address foreign threats and hamper local law enforcement in solving crimes and preventing tragedies. While acknowledging the importance of addressing potential abuses, he argued that the scope of the legislation was too broad for the specific issue it aimed to tackle.

The Fourth Amendment Is Not for Sale Act prohibits both law enforcement agencies and intelligence community elements from obtaining commercially available information if it relates to certain individuals, presenting a contentious issue around privacy, security, and surveillance practices.