Free Republic

I'm greatly saddened to hear of the passing of L. Neil Smith, the estimable science fiction author and lifelong lover of liberty. Neil was probably one of the most ardent and tireless advocates of the individual right to keep and bear arms in my lifetime. A literal brother-in-arms to all of us who believe in the supremacy of the individual, rather than the State. A man who greatly and positively influenced a generation or more of libertarians. I extend my condolences to his wife, Cathy, who is Neil's equal in her love and pursuit of individual freedom, and as strong-willed...

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution reads: "A well-regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." www.Dictionary.com informs us that "infringe" means "to commit a breach or infraction of; violate or transgress ... " and further refers us to _Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law_: "to encroach upon in a way that violates law or the rights of another." The latter specifically cites the Second Amendment as an example of the word's usage. The word "infringe" also carries a connotation of sneaking up,...

Over the past 30 years, I've been paid to write almost two million words, every one of which, sooner or later, came back to the issue of guns and gun-ownership. Naturally, I've thought about the issue a lot, and it has always determined the way I vote. People accuse me of being a single-issue writer, a single- issue thinker, and a single- issue voter, but it isn't true. What I've chosen, in a world where there's never enough time and energy, is to focus on the one political issue which most clearly and unmistakably demonstrates what any politician—or political philosophy—is...

To the artist’s own admission, The Probability Broach is full color graphic novel that is also thinly veiled propaganda for Libertarian ideals. Whether it’s viewed as a good comic book story is for the public to decide. But one has to respect the artist, Scott Bieser, for putting his views right out there in the world. Too often when people reveal themselves they are often asked or sometimes even forced to put themselves back where no one can see them. For years comic book writers like JM DeMatteis and Jim Starlin have been accused of foisting their views on unsuspecting...

WHY MICHAEL MEDVED NEEDS GLASSES by L. Neil Smith Exclusive to TLE Issue 199 Some years ago, I wrote a column that was an open letter to the just- diselected southern California congressman Robert K. "B-1 Bob" Dornan. Dornan was bitterly complaining that he'd lost the election because there was a Libertarian Party candidate running against him, depriving him of votes -- in his peculiar view -- that were rightfully his. He pointed to other races that year where LP candidates had won more votes than the margin between the winning Democrat and the losing Republican, and chastised libertarians for...