Terror vs. rights: Jon Dougherty recommends steps to protect citizens

In the rush to "do something" following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, far too many Americans already seem all too willing to give up their most basic freedoms and liberties for some perceived security.

Some in the Bush administration including – disappointingly – Attorney General John Ashcroft believe our new war on terrorism means they will have to strip Americans of basic constitutional protections in order to better provide that security.

I say they're wrong, but if this authoritarian mindset prevails and deepens, our terrorist enemies have already won this war – even before we fire our first shot in self-defense.

One of the most heinous ideas thus far has been to suggest the implementation of a national ID card. This requirement, which is more akin to fascist, socialist and communist regimes instead of democracies, already appears to be a done deal in Great Britain.

Such knee-jerk legislative or executive branch actions will do nothing to enhance the overall security of the American people. Such reactions will, however, do much to forward the agenda of terrorist madmen who hate our concept of freedom and liberty.

The terrorists who have struck the U.S. (and likely will continue to strike, experts predict) have already been in our country for some time – up to five years in many cases. They are already as much a part of our society as are those of us who were born and raised here. Therefore, forcing them to carry ID cards will be meaningless. But such a measure will be massively invasive to 99.9 percent of the rest of us, who were born and raised Americans.

Also, why should Americans be tempted to trust government bureaucrats and agencies with protecting the information of 285 million people when it cannot even protect its own nuclear weapons secrets?

Then, there is this concern: If a new national ID card does not prevent more terrorist attacks – and they won't – then will Uncle Sam be willing to admit defeat and then abandon them? Or are we going to be stuck with this mark of the beast forever, just as a way for the government to "keep better track" of us in the future – you know, to "prevent future attacks"?

There is a distinct difference between legitimate security and the illusion of security. National ID cards will provide us with an illusion of security, just as more draconian airport security measures will do. But in a practical sense, such measures will do little to protect us from a determined terroristic foe.

What would ultimately protect Americans from future terrorist attacks? While no one measure or series of measures will make us 100 percent safe 100 percent of the time, there are a few things authorities could and should do to help us help ourselves.

For one thing, all airline pilots ought to be trained and armed, and airliner pilot cabin doors should be made impenetrable.

Draconian restrictions and bans against guns all across this country – but especially in the major cities, which are going to be the most lucrative terrorist targets – should be lifted immediately. Nothing will help deter more attacks than lots of people packing lots of heat – U.S. crime research has proven that this works.

Armed "citizen" patrols should be established in communities to help augment local police and security forces. There is much in this country that needs to be guarded – we have the manpower to do that if we're brave enough to use it.

A nationwide campaign to help educate Americans about Islamic extremism should be launched immediately. If it's a war to be fought, then the people have a right to know about their enemy. Such education would be a great motivator as well, and would help keep the war effort alive long enough to see it through.

Finally, needless laws restricting freedoms should be revisited and repealed. Our liberty has been attacked – the best thing lawmakers could do is to repeal any laws that forbid us from practicing our basic rights.

We need to show our enemies that our national instinct following Sept. 11 is not to retreat from freedom, but to embrace and enhance it.

While I to some extent resent my CWP as a Second Amendment infringement, it seems that it might function as a state issued national ID - apart from its weapons function. My state has verified my citizenship and its quality (in this day and age of dividing us into first and second class citizens).

The value of the DL has been diluted by the recognition of its value in protecting First Amendment rights (to peacably assemble). The value of the CWP stems from our circumscribed and infringed Second Amendment Rights.

The elite jealously guards its power over our rights and freedoms. RKBA is the largest and most effective defect in their grasp.

I believe the best way to protect ourselves is to embrace the Second Amendment completely.

For instance, air flights. I agree that pilots should be armed behind locked doors and that there should be skymarshals. (Armed pilots behind locked doors aren't good enough, as the terrorists can then threaten and kill the passengers til the pilots open the door.) But even with armed pilots and skymarshals, there's the fear that terrorists may discover who the skymarshals are, kill them, and take their guns. The 9-11 attack was being planned for 5 years. Who knows what ELSE they've been doing? Maybe even placing spies into key positions in the airlines. Therefore we need armed civilians aboard planes, who will serve as OUR Fifth Column. An unknown factor terrorists will have to take into account, but NEVER be able to plan for. Allow passengers who have conceal-carry permits to take guns aboard, so long as the ammunitition is the type that can't penetrate airplane walls. (Frangible, I believe.)

What we need the most, though, is for the government to obey the Second Amendment and give us a well-regulated militia. The best way they can do that, IMO, is while kids are in school. While in school, we need to teach children of the value of our Second Amendment Rights, from Kindergarten on up. In Kindergarten, kids need to be taught RESPECT, not FEAR, for firearms. JROTC should be made into a required course (Possibly taking up half the school year, while the other half is P.E.), where kids can learn discipline, get physically fit, and learn American history. When they enter middle school kids should start receiving firearms training in their JROTC classes. And when the student graduates, the government should then issue them a weapon. So by the time they graduate, the kids should come out as well-trained militia men ready to defend their country.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.