The U.S. PATRIOT Act is not the first time the United States has used changes in substantive law as a way to cope with traumatic events (i.e., Alien

The U.S. PATRIOT Act is not the first time the United States has used changes in substantive law as a way to cope with traumatic events (i.e., Alien and Sedition Act). Is this practice acceptable? What are the potential repercussions of such legislative acts?