Candidate's Name : Joe Conklin

Political Party: Libertarian

Office you are running for: Monmouth County Freeholder

State: NJ

County: Monmouth

District: N/A

1) Do you believe that the Second Amendment confirms the individual right of every American citizen to possess and use (update of keep and bear) militia/military weapons for individual self-defense, as well as for the defense of the State / National defense?

Yes. But even if it did not, the 10th Amendment would.

10 Points

2) If elected would you support legislation for the removal of firearm laws and regulations? If your answer is yes, and if you are elected, what specific legislation would you propose/support to ensure that this individual right is protected? Which current laws which infringe upon this individual right would you seek to repeal?

Yes.

10 Points

3) What do you consider are "legitimate" reasons to own a firearm?
  Check as many as apply:
    [X] Personal Defense
    [X] Home Defense
    [X] Defense of your country (Unorganized Militia)
    [X] Hunting
    [X] Farm Use
    [X] Competitive Shooting
    [X] Informal Sport Shooting
    [X] Informal Target Practice and/or Plinking
    [X] Collecting
    [X] Constitutional Rights
    [X] Other: There are many reasons. It is not up to me to decide which reasons are legitimate.
    [ ] All of the above
    [ ] None of the above

10 Points

4) Would you support the banning of some firearms or ammunition? (IE: Saturday night specials, "assault weapons", Hollow points, and"Safety Slugs") Why and to what extent?

No.

10 Points

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

No. Although I believe the NRA and individual States should work together to create a preferred gun owner certificate that would allow people to carry a concealed weapon by going through a NRA sponsored safety course at a local range or gun club. (Maybe this exists in other states, but not NJ.)

2 Points

6) Do you support equal rights for all citizens of the United States regardless of the person's sexuality / orientation and / or gender identity/expression?

Yes.

10 Points

7) Which of the following would you be willing to support in regards to same-gender and/or polyamorous 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 polyamorous (more than two consenting adults)
    [ ] Same-sex marriages
    [ ] Opposite sex marriages (What we have now)
    [ ] Polyamarous marriages (between more than two consenting adults)
    [ ] 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.
    [X] Other: Although "marriage" should be defined by the church, people (regardless of their sexual orientation) should be allowed to enter into a contract that binds their relationship legally. It would then be up to individual companies (e.g. health or life insurance) to decide whether or not they want to sponsor a policy for that particular couple. But all levels of Government would have to recognize the contract.

10 Points

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

Yes.

10 Points

9) 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?

No. Consenting adults should be permitted to act in accordance with their own lifestyle in a private setting.

10 Points

10) Do you support equal immigration rights for partners of US residents, regardless of their sexuality / orientation and / or gender identity/expression?

Yes, as long as they have entered into a binding legal contract (mentioned in #7).

10 Points

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

Thank you for your time. Pink pistols is a great organization.

Joe Conklin
VoteConklin.com