by Ron Paul
The senseless and horrific killings last week in Newtown, Connecticut reminded us that a determined individual or group of individuals can cause great harm no matter what laws are in place. Connecticut already has restrictive gun laws relative to other states, including restrictions on fully automatic, so-called “assault” rifles and gun-free zones.
Predictably, the political left responded to the tragedy with emotional calls for increased gun control. This is understandable, but misguided. The impulse to have government “do something” to protect us in the wake national tragedies is reflexive and often well intentioned. Many Americans believe that if we simply pass the right laws, future horrors like the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting can be prevented. But this impulse ignores the self evident truth that criminals don’t obey laws.
The political right, unfortunately, has fallen into the same trap in its calls for quick legislative solutions to gun violence. If only we put armed police or armed teachers in schools, we’re told, would-be school shooters will be dissuaded or stopped.
While I certainly agree that more guns equals less crime and that private gun ownership prevents many shootings, I don’t agree that conservatives and libertarians should view government legislation, especially at the federal level, as the solution to violence. Real change can happen only when we commit ourselves to rebuilding civil society in America, meaning a society based on family, religion, civic and social institutions, and peaceful cooperation through markets. We cannot reverse decades of moral and intellectual decline by snapping our fingers and passing laws.
Let’s not forget that our own government policies often undermine civil society, cheapen life, and encourage immorality. The president and other government officials denounce school violence, yet still advocate for endless undeclared wars abroad and easy abortion at home. U.S. drone strikes kill thousands, but nobody in America holds vigils or devotes much news coverage to those victims, many of which are children, albeit, of a different color.
Obviously I don’t want to conflate complex issues of foreign policy and war with the Sandy Hook shooting, but it is important to make the broader point that our federal government has zero moral authority to legislate against violence.
Furthermore, do we really want to live in a world of police checkpoints, surveillance cameras, metal detectors, X-ray scanners, and warrantless physical searches? We see this culture in our airports: witness the shabby spectacle of once proud, happy Americans shuffling through long lines while uniformed TSA agents bark orders. This is the world of government provided “security,” a world far too many Americans now seem to accept or even endorse. School shootings, no matter how horrific, do not justify creating an Orwellian surveillance state in America.
Do we really believe government can provide total security? Do we want to involuntarily commit every disaffected, disturbed, or alienated person who fantasizes about violence? Or can we accept that liberty is more important than the illusion of state-provided security? Government cannot create a world without risks, nor would we really wish to live in such a fictional place. Only a totalitarian society would even claim absolute safety as a worthy ideal, because it would require total state control over its citizens’ lives. We shouldn’t settle for substituting one type of violence for another. Government role is to protect liberty, not to pursue unobtainable safety.
Our freedoms as Americans preceded gun control laws, the TSA, or the Department of Homeland Security. Freedom is defined by the ability of citizens to live without government interference, not by safety. It is easy to clamor for government security when terrible things happen; but liberty is given true meaning when we support it without exception, and we will be safer for it.
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Not to mention to defend our country. In places where you are able to take class to holster a gun on you murder rates are low. Some types of crimes in city’s with strictest gun control like my Baltimore it has the highest murder rate in the US many years not to mention D.C
Its nice to say call the cops but while your being shot at its not going to help. If people all held guns then some one looking to do harm would need to think about if that guy has a gun. Gun safety is good, Disarming is not
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The problem is getting the sheep to vote for what is right for the country not what the Neocons & Zionist interest want us to vote for. Trust me they don’t have a spending limit and they could make satin look like a perfect candidate for Pres. Aslong as their interest are being preserved and they wont be challenged. This makes them happy as Americans are so stupid that they are giving their guns in, our founders knew a day might come for us to need them to form militia’s & take back our country.
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Why did you remove your comment? Nothing becomes an error until you refuse to correct it. You are fucking hilarious, you talk like a hypocrite without even knowing it. First you say I’m a conservative because I stand for the second ammendment and then you bring up a good point by saying that people wouldn’t give up their guns easily. There is no basis in your argument on why less guns on citizens mean less crimes. Think before you speak.
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Another simple fact is that there are more guns in peoples hands today than yesterday, and there will be more guns in peoples hands tomorrow then there are today, This has been going on for decades yet crime rates continue to fail.
The simplest way to reevaluate one’s beleif on gun control is to just imagine a scenario where you, your wife, or your kid is being victimized of a crime. Would you shoot someone who was attacking your family?
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fuckin society fuck u for not electing this man as president! fuck u a million times! FUCK THE FED!
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On the contrary, however, anyone could grab a knife or any blunt/sharp object and use it as a weapon to chop someone to death without making any gunshot noises. Not condoning it, just pointing out an obvious hole in your logic.
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*facepalm* I guess there really is no point in arguing with a conservative. They’re too far stubborn to be reasoned with. To persuade a conservative or republican to give up his gun would be persuading a serial killer not to kill people.
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Hahaha, the second ammendment was put in place so the citizens can protect themselves if the government became opressive and tried to strip away freedoms and liberties. You also tried using the conveniency of an analogy between fists and guns but that is not the point I was trying to make. Guns are tools and cars are tools, and they can be both used to murder. You are wrong on everything except for your last point.
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What is it about “the idea that more guns = less crime” is unconvincing?
The argument is pretty simple:
1) Guns are (one of) the most effective self-defence tools.
2) Most people aren’t criminals.
3) If more people have guns, then can defend themselves more effectively.
Of course, more guns means criminals have more guns. But the question becomes empirical. Which of the two effects is greater?
All the current research says either more guns = less crime or that there is no relationship.
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Ron I wish you were our president…
Happy new year my friend
God Bless you and the republic
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So upsetting to see him leave congress. It is truly inspiring to know that someone, a politician like him, has these beliefs and stands by them. Thank you for your wisdom and unequaled sense of freedom Dr. Paul.
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Clue Clocks Clan grand master Ron Paul should be deported
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Ron Paul is the head of the Clue Clocks Clan and hates puppies
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If you wrote in ron paul for president, give this a thumbs up. I am curious to see how many other people voted for him.
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killing with fists is easier. it makes no noise and makes the crime more easy to hide.
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What is your point?
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We live in a corrupt society with no morals, no family structure, and no spiritural
background. The politician are the problem starting with the president, and both parties. They will never have the people’s interest at heart. We have gone from being a strong and moral country to a socialist run country that believes in a welfare state, goverment control society, and a country with out guns is a county doomed.
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Diane Feinstein=NWO
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No new laws for guns, repeal them
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Try killing someone with a gun. Then compare that with trying to kill a person using only your bare fists. See which one would be more convenient when going on a killing spree? The 2nd amendment only existed as a last resort in case the British (or any foreign power) ever decided to invade American soil. That has not happened in the past 100 or so years. The problem with guns is that Americans like them too much. Psychopaths will always try to find a way to kill people, even if we did ban guns.
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Scrahan, put that on a sign in your front yard.
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More people die from drinking and driving than non-gang related gun crimes. So why do people not post bans on automobiles? People have accepted the notion that they are held responsible for their actions and not the fallacy that it is because quick transportation is imperative.
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People must accept personal responsibility and education is the only way to make a society more civilized. Never sacrifice our liberties and freedoms for deceptive security.
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Guns are simply just tools, killing 26 people with my fists would make me a pyschopath. Therefore, it is people that kill. Taking guns away from people who adhere to moral principles in society won’t reduce gun crimes. Your logic is preposterous… Someone can buy an automobile and run over men, women, and children easily but does that mean we should put a ban on automobiles? Also, think about why the second ammendment was put in place.
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Ron Paul On The Fiscal Cliff: “We Have Passed The Point Of No Return”
http://www.infowars.com/ron-paul-on-the-fiscal-cliff-we-have-passed-the-point-of-no-return/
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oh yes..its mere coincedence that those Swiss just happen to have lower crime rates LOLOL. come on man, please.
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ty. ditto.
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I completely agree.Those are great points.
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well said, but they also ignore this. Japan and Britain are islands…its much easier to ban guns when you have to fly them in or boat them in ilegally. we have an extensive ever evolving North and South American underground black market that cannot be quelled short of all government disarming themselves as well. even then it might be impossible to locate all production factories and underground networks…pandoras box was opened long ago. Like the Dr. says: only love and reason will heal this
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Except they don’t dumb ass.
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population density
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population density
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EPIC FISCAL CLIFF ANALYSIS —————> watch?v=r2tqx3vgi2E
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this guy was our only hope for a political solution and he was roundly dissed and dismissed by the fascist republicans. and they are still wondering why they lost. liberty? constitution? self reliance? he must have made up words that no longer exist.
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A government that does not trust all lawful Citizens to own and bear arms (guns) is a government NOT to be trusted!
Period.
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Important, crucial interview. PLEASE WATCH!
Alex talks with Doug Hagmann of the Northeast Intelligence Network about information released by his high-level DHS contact concerning government gun confiscation and other important topics.
Insider: Obama To Fully Engage Gun Owners with Armed Feds in 2013
http://www.infowars.com/insider-obama-to-fully-engage-gun-owners-with-armed-feds-in-2013/
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obama / hitler have the same agenda disarm the public, Then march the people into the death / fema camps. This is how hitler did it… There is a reason our Forefathers warned us to bear arms, because of out of control governments like our is Today. Protect your Loved ones and your Property.
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