Rand Paul - "The Govt wants you to feel good about allowing them to spy. We were so frightened after 9/11 that we readily gave up our freedoms. Not only would I let these expire, but I think we should sunset the entire PATRIOT Act"

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) spoke on the floor of the Senate yesterday introducing the Leahy-Paul amendment[pdf] which would have National Security Letters expire on Dec. 31, 2013. It also requires the Justice Department inspector general to audit the issuance of NSL letters and expands public reporting on the use of such letters under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

"We were so frightened after 9/11 that we readily gave up these freedoms," Paul said. "Not only would I let these expire, but I think we should sunset the entire PATRIOT Act."

"You can be opposed to terrorists ... but we can do it with a process that protects the innocent," Paul said.

Paul has been one of the most vocal opponents of the expansion of the national security and surveillance state in the Senate.