Alarms Quote by Angus King
“The intelligence community, in particular the FBI, have been sounding alarms about this for more than a year. So to argue that suddenly we have to do this because of the San Bernardino case doesn't really pass the straight-face test. I mean, they've been talking about this. And to say, well, it will only apply to this case, that just - that doesn't wash. This is a major piece of public policy.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Senate Committee Hearing on Surveillance, 2015
The FBI has warned about this issue for over a year, so using a recent event as justification is insufficient for policy change.
In simple terms: FBI warned long before; recent case isn’t the sole reason.
Key Takeaway
Base policy on sustained evidence, not single events.
Themes
policy
security
evidence
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
political
informative
When to use this quote
- legislative debates
- media coverage
- public forums
Key Concepts
government oversight
public safety
Questions to Reflect On
- What safeguards ensure policies aren’t reactionary?
- How can long‑term warnings be integrated into law?
A Different Perspective
Counterarguments may claim urgency overrides prior warnings.
