1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

I am writing as your constituent to express my strong opposition to Senate Bill 238A, which would dangerously expand law enforcement's ability to conduct drone surveillance without adequate oversight or accountability. As an Oregon citizen, I deeply value our fundamental rights to privacy, free speech, and the ability to organize without fear of government surveillance. SB 238A threatens to undermine these basic freedoms by allowing police and sheriffs to deploy drones with virtually no limitations and without requiring judicial oversight through warrants. This legislation would give law enforcement agencies unprecedented power to: * Deploy unlimited numbers of drones whenever they choose * Conduct surveillance without obtaining warrants * Make unilateral decisions about drone usage without judicial accountability * Monitor protests, public gatherings, and everyday community activities History has shown us that unchecked surveillance powers are often used to intimidate and silence dissent, particularly targeting Black, brown, immigrant, and working-class communities. In our current political climate, where democratic institutions face increasing pressure, expanding surveillance capabilities without proper safeguards creates a dangerous precedent that could enable state overreach and repression. Oregon has the opportunity to be a leader in protecting civil liberties rather than contributing to the expansion of the surveillance state. Our state should prioritize policies that strengthen community trust and constitutional protections, not measures that erode them. I urge you to VOTE NO on SB 238A and instead support legislation that protects our right to live, speak, and organize without unwarranted government surveillance. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response regarding your position on this critical issue affecting our community's civil liberties.