Dear Editor:

When one refuses to respect the rights and property of others, the abuse will result in a loss of the freedom for which the founding fathers fought. Due to the threat of Internet piracy, representatives proposed a bill called Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which takes aggressive action against this threat.

Despite the good intentions behind SOPA, the economic, social, and political consequences far outweigh the benefits.

SOPA was created ?to strengthen protections against copyright infringement and intellectual property theft,? writes Stephanie Condon of CBS News. However, unless the scope of government bureaucracy is focused and limited, the consequences will affect everyone, causing more harm than good.

The American government does need a law to protect online business and liberty, but SOPA only limits the action of those pirating information. It is a policy of containment rather than one of extirpation.

SOPA only eliminates the effects of Internet theft, rather than attacking the root of the problem.

America needs an aggressive but limited bill focused only on the root of the problem of Internet piracy. Although the government can make and enforce laws, it is our duty to use our freedom discerningly.

Sincerely,

Rayna Endicott, Jenna Weimer and Lucas Lopez

For another letter on this issue, read LETTER: SOPA not the answer or LETTER: SOPA limits online rights.