Why Fear National Id Cards

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Why Fear National ID Cards? Dershowitz makes the concept of national identity cards seem so simple when in fact it is not. What makes him so sure that a national identity card would stop a terrorist from being a terrorist? Although I can attest that it would be a great idea to have national identity cards, I do not suppose that they would decrease the likely hood of another terrorist attack or increase the level of security in our society. In the essay “Why Fear National ID Cards?” by Alan Dershowitz, Dershowitz elaborates his views on national identity cards and the benefits of having one. He sums it up by stating “A little less anonymity for a lot more security.” With that being said what makes him so sure that something as simple as a national identity card would make society secure? What would stop a person with a national ID from committing a crime or other acts of terror? Yes having one would make it easier to pin point a suspected terrorist but the reality of the situation is there would be no change in the level of security with or without a national identity card. Dershowitz makes it clear that he is skeptical about the idea of national ID cards and states that he supports national identity cards with chips matching a person’s fingerprints. I also support this idea for the same reason as him, the fact that fingerprints are difficult to fake. But how will having file of a person’s finger print make things so secure, and automatically determine who’s a terrorist and who’s not? Consider the attacks of 9/11. All of the highjackers had ID cards and passports yet they still were able to learn how to fly and even take over multiple planes to attack the United States. Would a national identity card have prevented this from happening? I think not. The basis for national identity cards is not only terror related. Dershowitz also states that “A national ID

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