Trading freedom for security never worked. I understand that Ben Franklin was speaking from a purely 18th century perspective, but he was right on the money when he said his famous 'those who trade freedom for security deserve neither and are not likely to get it'.

Also historically many laws passed during war time were repealed after the war was done. Ww1 and WW2 produced many temporary laws that restricted people in Canada, the US, and the UK, but they were repealed after the war.

Anti terrorist legislation passed after 9/11(and some countries passed stuff similar but before 9/11) did diddly squat to prevent terrorism or keep people safe, but it did prevent or make harder mass social movements like those of the 1950s to 70s.