Political Party: Libertarian

Office you are running for: State Assembly

State: California

County: Alameda and Santa Clara

District: 20

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. That is how I understand the 2nd Amendment.

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. I support the repeal of bans on specific weapons that don’t exceed the 50 caliber damage threshold. The emphasis should be on the damage potential, not weapon cost, appearance, or other factors. As long as the weapon target area is a single individual, or a small number in close proximity, the weapon should be legal under my interpretation of the
2nd Amendment. I don’t support waiting periods, blanket restrictions on shows, or restrictions on number purchased.

6 Points
 

3) What do you consider are "legitimate" reasons to own a firearm?
   Check as many as apply:
     [ ] Personal Defense
     [ ] Home Defense
     [ ] Defense of your country (Unorganized Militia)
     [ ] 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

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. As long as the ammunition in question does not drastically expand the destructive power of the weapon, I am not opposed to it. I don’t support banning of weapons below the 50
caliber threshold.

8 Points
 

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

Yes, arms should be registered. I liken firearms to automobiles and impose similar standards. You may keep and bear whatever you choose up to 50 caliber, but registration (of weapons
primarily, not owners) is consistent with the 2nd Amendment, and an assist to law-enforcement. I would support reasonable mandatory training and skill proficiency requirements of
owners (again, similar to automobile usage) as long as this was not used as a back-door attempt at circumventing the 2nd Amendment..

0 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/statement?

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)
     [X] All of the above. Everyone should have equal rights under the law.
     [ ] None of the above. Government has no role in defining a marriage. Leave it to the church.
     [ ]  Other ____________________________________________________________

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. While I am not familiar with the details of this case and am relying on your account of it here, consenting adults should be able to do anything they want, as long as
non-consenters are not harmed. As long as the party was behind closed doors and not otherwise a nuisance, the police went far beyond the role I consider proper. They should not
have entered the premises, arrested anyone, or been concerned with private revenue activities.

10 Points
 

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

Yes

10 Points
 

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

For further information on my candidacy, please see: www.Keith-Lyon-for-AD20.com