Candidate's Name :   Barton Smith  (Libertarian)
 

Office you are running for:   State Representative
 

State:   Pennsylvania
 

County:   Delaware
 

District:   161st
 

Campaign URL:   bart23s@home.com  (email only)
 

1)    Do you believe that the 2nd Amendment confers rights to individuals or only to the Militia /Military?

The 2nd Amendment enumerates an individual's right.
 

2)    Do you support equal rights for all citizens of the United States regardless of the person's sexuality?

Yes, I support equal rights under the law for everyone.
 

3)    If elected would you support legislation for the removal of firearm laws and regulations?  Why and to what extent?

Yes, I would support the repeal of most, if not all gun control laws.  These laws are in most cases unconstitutional under the federal and/or state constitutions.  Gun control laws only affect law-abiding people, not criminals.  Statistics show that gun control laws cause an increase in violent crime.  Finally, as was the case so many times during the 20th century, gun control is one of the first major steps in establishing a totalitarian government.
 

4)    Which of the following would you be willing to support in regards to same-gender and/or polyamarous marriages and/or civil unions?
    Check as many as apply:
        [ ]    Domestic partnerships for same-sex couples
        [ ]    Domestic partnerships for opposite-sex couples
        [ ]    Domestic partnerships for polyamarous (more than two consenting adults)
        [ ]    Same-sex marriages
        [ ]    Opposite sex marriages (What we have now)
        [ ]    Polyamarous marriages (between more than two consenting adults)
        [x]    All of the above.  Everyone should have equal rights under the law.
        [x]    None of the above.  Government has no role in defining a marriage.  Leave it to the church.
        [ ]
       Other_________________________________________________________________________

I would say that I support all of the above.  If marriage (whatever form it takes) is a legally binding contract, then government has a role. However, if the participants don't want government to be involved, that's fine too, as long as they won't depend on the government courts to settle disputes within their marriage.
 

5)    What do you consider are "legitimate" reasons to own a firearm?
    Check as many as apply:
         [ ]    Personal Defense
         [ ]    Home Defense
         [ ]    Hunting
         [ ]    Farm Use
         [ ]    Competitive Shooting
         [ ]    Informal Sport Shooting
         [ ]    Informal Target Practice and/or Plinking
         [ ]    Collecting
         [ ]    Constitutional Rights
         [ ]    Other __________________________________
         [x]    All of the above
         [ ]    None of the above
 

6)    Do you support the right for people to act as they wish in a private setting, with other consenting adults?

Yes.
 

7)    Would you support the banning of some firearms?  (IE:  Saturday night specials and "assault weapons")  Why and to what extent?

I oppose the banning of any class of firearms.  Banning inexpensive handguns is simply an underhanded attempt to keep firearms out of the hands of poor people.  With regard to "assault weapons", the intent of the Second Amendment is that every citizen has the right to own any firearm which could be used by the military.
 

8)    In July 2000 the Police Dept. of Attleboro Massachusetts entered a private party without a search warrant.  The party was not open to the public or in the business to make a profit. Any donations given were used to pay rent.  When the police entered, they arrested two people. The first person who was arrested organized the event.  The second person arrested was arrested because she spanked her consenting adult partner with a wooden spoon.  Do you support the actions of the Attleboro police as given in this example?  Why?

Absolutely not.  Not only were their actions unconstitutional, but the individuals who participated in this raid probably broke several state and federal laws.  These "police" are out of control and deserve both criminal and civil penalties for their actions.
 

9)    Do you believe that firearms and/or firearm owners should be registered?  Which ones and why?

Neither firearms nor their owners should be registered.  History shows that registration is just a prelude to confiscation.
 

10)   Would you support the banning and/or regulation of ammunition; or of some types of ammunition?  (IE:  Hollow points, "Safety Slugs", etc.)  Why?

I oppose the banning of classes of ammunition for the same reasons that I oppose the banning of classes of firearms (see my answer to question 7 above).
 

Do you have an additional statement to make that is not covered by this
questionnaire?  Use as much space as you wish.

Only the Libertarian party will defend your right to live your life as
you see fit without government interference and defend your right to
keep and bear arms.  I hope you will consider voting Libertarian this
November.  Thank you for the opportunity to participate in your
Candidate's Questionnaire Page.
 

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