# Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) wants to destroy your computer **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 18, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716 "2003-06-18T15:12:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/1 "2003-06-18T15:12:08Z")
From [this Washington Post article](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6241-2003Jun17.html): > [@](#): > > During a discussion on methods to frustrate computer users who illegally exchange music and movie files over the Internet, Hatch asked technology executives about ways to damage computers involved in such file trading. Legal experts have said any such attack would violate federal anti-hacking laws. > > “I’m interested,” Hatch interrupted. He said damaging someone’s computer “may be the only way you can teach somebody about copyrights.” > > The senator acknowledged Congress would have to enact an exemption for copyright owners from liability for damaging computers. He endorsed technology that would twice warn a computer user about illegal online behavior, “then destroy their computer.” This whacky guy is also one of many Republicans who voted into law the CDA (Communications Decency Act) in ‘96, which basically would have made the entire Internet G-rated and dealt out jail time to offenders (such as, websites about breast cancer or prison rape), and also spear-headed the “virtual kiddy porn law”, which redefined child pornography in terms so broad that would have made certain works of classic art, as well as movies like "Ramblin’ Rose" and “Endless Love” illegal to view or own. (Indeed, the whole “Tin Drum” debacle came about because of this.) Luckily, both laws were overturned, or at least severely limited in scope, by the SCOTUS, our last bastion of hope in protecting our Constitutional Rights. Why on Earth do they let maggots like this guy run free around Washington, while Democrats like say, oh Gov. Gray Davis (Calif.), who are just doing their job the best they can, have to fend off recall elections funded by rich, white Republicans?? Why doesn’t anyone in Utah stand up and recall THIS GUY, or at least vote him out of office??? ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/2 "2003-06-18T16:05:30Z")
Because the folks in Utah like him. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/3 "2003-06-18T17:39:52Z")
i shall enjoy renaming a blank text file at metallica.mp3, the RIAA then nukes my comp, and then i sue them for $100 billion! ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/4 "2003-06-19T02:29:36Z")
I’m wondering how long it will take hackers to break into Senator Hatch’s [website](http://www.senate.gov/~hatch) and upload illegal copies of copyrighted material. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/5 "2003-06-19T03:53:44Z")
Why bother uploading it, when it’s already there? [http://amish.blogmosis.com/archives/012511.html#012511](http://amish.blogmosis.com/archives/012511.html#012511) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/6 "2003-06-19T05:52:15Z")
Hatch can have my computer when he pries it from my cold, dead, hands. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/7 "2003-06-19T08:12:07Z")
I don’t approve of illegal trading of music, but I approve even less of destroying others’ property from afar without even the pretense of due process. Orrin Hatch can shut his hatch and kiss my big fat geezer ass. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/8 "2003-06-19T09:35:22Z")
I find it fascinating that I am repulsed by everything Orrin Hatch has ever said. I think if I were to bump into him in person, we would disappear in a burst of energy. ---
**Author:** ![My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@My\_Darn\_Snake\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/My_Darn_Snake_Legs)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/9 "2003-06-19T14:27:50Z")
What a retarded thing to say! That stupid, big-headed reject! I read that statement yesterday and I’m still incoherent with rage when I think about it! ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/10 "2003-06-19T14:46:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tars Tarkas \* > \*\*i shall enjoy renaming a blank text file at metallica.mp3, the RIAA then nukes my comp, and then i sue them for $100 billion! \*\* Perhaps you missed the “exemption” portion of the article…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Krisfer\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krisfer_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/11 "2003-06-20T04:39:23Z")
If we leave him in Washington we don’t have to deal with him at home. Its the only solution I can understand. I don’t live in his district so my vte doesn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-orrin-hatch-r-utah-wants-to-destroy-your-computer/182716/12 "2003-06-20T05:19:56Z")
There’s a [GD thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=191542) on this already.