This is a serious threat, specifically because it will *not* be applied to “terrorists” or “terrorist supporters”, but to ordinary citizens, accused, suspected, or almost at random.
I can say this with certainty, because the vast amount of the heightened internal security in the US has been and is now used almost exclusively against US citizens with no involvement in any form of terrorism or terrorism support.
In other words, the Patriot Act is a complete and utter fraud, perpetrated in bad faith, and the vast majority of it should be repealed as having nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism, and everything to do with the nullification of the Bill of Rights.
We now live in a police state, managed by authoritarians who turned our fears against us to enhance their own power and sense of control and domination.
Been there, done that, now 15 years on. Just ask the IRS!!!