Critics Say House Bill Will Gut 4th Amendment

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"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.

House Republicans say their recently passed bill easing the rules on police searches will put an end to criminals' using technicalities to escape conviction.

Opponents of the measure, however, say it will effectively abolish the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, which forbids arbitrary searches of people and their homes.

The measure, the Exclusionary Rule Reform Act of 1995, HR 666, which permits evidence seized without a warrant to be used in court, was passed Feb. 8 by the House of Representatives as part of the Republican majority's "Contract with America." If it becomes law, it will overturn the long-standing rule under which courts throw out evidence that was not properly obtained. HR 666 directs judges to allow …