Libertarians: Repeal all gun laws

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Thursday, November 1, 2001 | Jon Dougherty

[JohnHuang2]

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Libertarians: Repeal
all gun laws
Party calls firearms 'practical solution' to problem of terrorism

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By Jon Dougherty
© 2001 WorldNetDaily.com

One result of the recent terrorist attacks in the U.S. has been a surge in gun sales, prompting the Libertarian Party to call on lawmakers to repeal a number of gun-control measures.

"More Americans are beginning to realize that the Second Amendment is not some fossilized remnant of a frontier nation, but a practical solution to the 21st century problem of terrorism," Steve Dasbach, the party's national director, said yesterday. "Now, it's time for politicians to acknowledge this change in attitude – as well as the new reality of the terrorism threat – and immediately start repealing laws that prohibit law-abiding Americans from buying and carrying firearms to protect themselves and their families."

The party quoted recent media reports denoting the rise in gun sales.

The Washington Post, on Oct. 2, reported "a surge in gun sales" following the Sept. 11 attacks against the U.S. The paper said that applications to buy handguns in Virginia doubled the week after the attack, and background checks for handguns, rifles and shotguns went up by 32 percent.

Forty-five percent more Americans "value Second Amendment rights" than before the terrorist attacks, according to an NRA poll reported by U.S. News & World Report in the magazine's Nov. 5 issue.

In Colorado, background checks for concealed-carry permits jumped 172 percent from August to October, according to the Rocky Mountain News' Oct. 30 edition.

In Connecticut, 41 percent more people bought guns in September 2001 than in the same month last year, according to an Oct. 2 Associated Press report.

Women across the country are signing up for gun safety courses in record numbers, according to the Oct. 10 "Today Show" on NBC, with sales of guns to women increasing by 60 percent.

CBS Morning News reported Oct. 2 that gun sales in California – arguably the most restrictive gun control state in the union – rose 42 percent since the attacks.

The reason for so much renewed interest in guns is obvious, Dasbach said.

"Americans have begun to realize, following the Sept. 11 tragedy, that government and police cannot keep them safe from every danger."

"There is simply no way the government can protect 280 million Americans from stealthy terrorists or even garden-variety criminals," the party leader said. "Americans have begun to understand that they must take personal responsibility for their own safety. That's why we're seeing such a surge in gun sales – especially to vulnerable demographic groups, like women."

Currently, the LP noted that about 21,000 federal, state and local laws limit or prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms or ban outright the carry or ownership of others. Such bans and restrictions are leaving Americans at risk, the party says.

"Sept. 11 was a wake-up call to America that we are vulnerable to terrorists," noted Dasbach. "Now, politicians need to wake up and start repealing the 21,000 gun-control laws they passed over the last few decades."

He added, "It is unconscionable that old-fashioned gun laws and anti-gun politicians can prevent Americans from protecting themselves and their families from murderous terrorists."

For Education And Discussion Only. Not For Commercial Use.

[biblewonk]

2.1 The U. S. Department of Education should be abolished, leaving education decision making at the state, local or personal level.

2.2 Parents have the right to spend their money on the school or method of schooling they deem appropriate for their children.

2.1 Can decisions really be state and local and personal while there is an NEA?

2.2. If parents have this right then what about the rights of those who pay taxes and have no kids? They should have the right not to support other peoples kids shouldn't they? As a home schooler of 8 children our cost per child is about 100 dollars per year, in the public school across the street it is probably 10-20,000 per child. It makes me sick to see what kind stuff goes on over there.

[Benson_Carter]

``I like GEORGE (W. BUSH). I just don't like being told what to do. You get a little more freedom from that angle.''

-- rocker KID ROCK, on his libertarian leanings, in a Spin magazine cover story.

I dunno, I just found this funny.

[biblewonk]

3.0 HEALTH CARE

3.1 Free market health care alternatives, such as medical savings accounts, should be available to everyone, including senior citizens.

3.2 The federal entitlement to Medicare should be abolished, leaving health care decision making regarding the elderly at the state, local, or personal level.

3.1 Aren't they?

3.2 No more medicare, sure that'll fly. Don't put that anywhere near the ticket of a candidate that you actually would like to see get elected.

[scottiewottie]

Yup! I think a federal oversight is also not needed. Let the free market secure itself and compete for our confidence.

[scottiewottie]

2.1 - The NEA would have no authority to write laws at the Federal Level. If it wishes to be an advisory board, it will adapt or disappear.

2.2 - My thinking here is that I don't need to pay for your child's education, and you don't need to pay for mine. But if you want to pay for mine, and I accept your assistance, that is not the governments business. Private NPO's like the United Negro College Fund, financed by philanthropy and foundations is a good idea.

[Liberal Classic]

This thread didn't die? Inconceivable!

Regarding Kid Rock, I saw this over on Democratic Ungerground. They were complaining about Dennis Miller's new book, in which he said:

``Clinton leaving the White House quietly is like Kid Rock leaving a Holiday Inn.''

:)

[scottiewottie]

3.1 - No, the government decides which private organizations get to compete for medicare, social security, etc.

3.2 - Just set a date, sustain those going out and eliminate it.

[Admin Moderator]

knock it off with the flames.

[Ubonic]

Libertarians want to have sex with kids, smoke dope, kill babies, and live in total anarchy. Those are the facts. Nothing can change that.

Wow! I'm finding out all kinds of amazing things about myself.

I was amamzed to find these things about myself. I am a civil libertarian Green Party supporter. Supposedly I am an atheist, a baby killer, would rather see a man die than a tree.. Of course this is all an attempt by conservatives to smear anyone who opposes their agenda as 'kooks' or 'black masked anarchists'. No, we do not want to have sex with kids, we want to lower age of consent so that sexually mature individuals can legally engage in sexual activity. We do not kill babies, we support the right to have abortion and promote comprehensive sex education and the free availability of contraceptives. We do not all want to smoke dope, we just want to end prohibition because it is destroying families and killing people, and is a poor excuse for whittling away our freedom. We don't want to live in total anarchy, but we do want as little government interference in our lives as possible. Gov't out of our bedrooms, backyards, and hard drives. If being a 'radical individualist' makes me a threat then so so be it..

[biblewonk]

2.2 - My thinking here is that I don't need to pay for your child's education, and you don't need to pay for mine. But if you want to pay for mine, and I accept your assistance, that is not the governments business. Private NPO's like the United Negro College Fund, financed by philanthropy and foundations is a good idea.

So anyone without children or with grown up children doesn't have to pay at all right?

[Benson_Carter]

I take it you're a young person? from one to another, what's with support of the Green Party? A Green said to me last week that "voting Democrat is like re-arranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic." I said "well what's that mean about your vote for Nader?" The guy is a damned socialist, not even a smart one. As for Winona Laduke? She's the biggest kook ever.

You're no civil libertarian if you support abortion. In fact I'm miffed; it's people like you who give libertarians a bad name. Killing a child in the womb is an infringement of rights (Life, Liberty, and Persuit of Happiness) as well as an initation of force against an individual.

you're all right on everything else as far as I can see.

[scottiewottie]

correct.

[biblewonk]

I say again, the current price is $10,000 per kid per year. Your plan would turn this country into Afghanistan in a generation or two. Quite a high percentage of 'parents' out there don't care whether their kids get educated or not. I suspect a Libertarian would say, "If their parents don't care then why should I". That attitude is exactly the one held by Anton Levay and his little pentagram club too.

[Dan from Michigan]

There is a reason I liked Kid Rock. I know he's friends with the Nuge so that says something right there.

[Ubonic]

I take it you're a young person? from one to another, what's with support of the Green Party?

I'm 33 years young. Support for the Green Party means you support reforming government.

Here's a list of core Green values

1) Ecological widsom

2) Grassroots democracy

3) Social justice

4) Nonviolence

5) Decentralization

6) Community based economics

7) Feminism

8) Respect for diversity

9) Global responsibility

10) Sustainability

A Green said to me last week that "voting Democrat is like re-arranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic." I said "well what's that mean about your vote for Nader?"

As Nader said, the Democrat and Republican parties are two sides of the same coin.

The guy is a damned socialist, not even a smart one.

There's not much room for Socialists in the Green Party. Socialism has destroyed the environment and human rights.

As for Winona Laduke? She's the biggest kook ever.

hmm... 'kook'. OK. I thought only right-wingers were 'kooks'.

You're no civil libertarian if you support abortion.

Supporting reproductive rights is civil libertarian.

In fact I'm miffed; it's people like you who give libertarians a bad name. Killing a child in the womb is an infringement of rights (Life, Liberty, and Persuit of Happiness) as well as an initation of force against an individual.

Sure, if you believe that a fetus has the same rights as a person. But that's not so.

[Benson_Carter]

you're caught up in buzzwords and horribly confused.

stick around, you might have a change of heart.

[NittanyLion]

Sure, if you believe that a fetus has the same rights as a person. But that's not so.

A fetus has unique DNA - clearly the fetus IS another person, with all the corresponding rights.

[Liberal Classic]

I say again, the current price is $10,000 per kid per year. Your plan would turn this country into Afghanistan in a generation or two. Quite a high percentage of 'parents' out there don't care whether their kids get educated or not. I suspect a Libertarian would say, "If their parents don't care then why should I". That attitude is exactly the one held by Anton Levay and his little pentagram club too.

Where should I begin?

One, Afganistan is in poor shape for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the Soviet Red Army. Because I might oppose compulsary tax-funded public school does not mean I don't want children to be taught. This does not turn the United States into Afganistan. The only nation in the world who could do that was the Soviet Union, and they aren't around anymore, thank God. For you to suggest that libertarians are going to turn America into Afganistan is a hell of a conceit. That's a non sequitor regardless.

Two, Anton LeVey was a out to make a buck. His "little pentagram club" as you call it was to have been a cult not unlike that of the Scientology cult of Lafayette Hubbard or Trancendential Meditation of the Maharishi Whatevertheheck. Actually, LeVey's club was the inspiration for Hubbards pseudo-religious cult. LeVey didn't care about children getting education becasuse he was out to pick the pockets of unsuspecting supersticious dupes, neither did Hubbard.

Libertarians are all in support of home school and private schools not because we don't want children to get an education, but because we do.

Please go jump in the proverbial lake, thanks.

[tortoise]

A fetus has unique DNA - clearly the fetus IS another person, with all the corresponding rights.

That is a useless definition of "person". Hell, with that definition a dead body could be a "person", and a living person would actually be thousands of "persons". The best definitions of "person" I've found is a gradient based on cognitive ability.

[Liberal Classic]

There's not much room for Socialists in the Green Party.

< cough >

< choke >