Survey of 2014 Senate campaign websites: on Drugs
Amanda Swafford:
Replace War on Drugs with individual freedom
The primary responsibility of government is to protect our individual rights. That duty requires preservation of those rights which may include aspects of another person's beliefs that we don't personally agree with. However, as long as an individual's
choices or actions do not infringe on another person's liberties, we should not use government to force that individual to conform to our personal beliefs. On a federal level, individual freedom is an important foundation for issues like the War on Drugs
Source: 2014 Georgia Senate campaign website, AmandaSwafford.net
Sep 30, 2014
Chad Taylor:
Legalizing marijuana may decrease crime & increase revenue
Many states have already taken initiative when it comes to marijuana legalization, with more than half of them decriminalizing possession of small amounts or legalizing its medical use. I am interested, from a legal standpoint, to see what the
data say about the states that have legalized recreational marijuana, particularly as they relate to decreases in violent crime and increases in revenue sources for local taxing entities.
Source: 2014 Kansas Senate campaign website, TaylorForUSSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
Thomas Ravenel:
Mexican border problems come from failed War on Drugs
With respect to the current borders crossings by Mexican youth, let me say this: The effects of our disastrous drug policy are now spilling over onto U.S. soil. As Ron Paul has said, this problem is a direct result of our failed 'War on Drugs', which by
one estimate puts $300 billion per year into the hands of the most violent criminals on the face of the earth. On the other side, we give the Mexican government money to wage war with the drug cartels--and now children are being killed in the crossfire.
Many Mexican policemen are given the choice between "plata o plomo," which means "silver or lead." In other words they can either accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes--or they can refuse and be killed or
have a member of their family killed. And speaking of killing--who can forget the U.S. Justice Department's botched gun-running operation--"Fast and Furious?"
Source: 2014 S.C. Senate campaign website, RavenelForSenate.com
Sep 1, 2014
Randall Batson:
Legalization yields better results than current turf wars
Drug War: Just as in the era of alcohol prohibition, bad law has consequences to society. Non-violent offenses without intent to injure others should be non-criminal. Our laws create penal system tax burdens.
People purchase medication at pharmacies, alcohol at liquor stores, and cigarettes at tobacco stores. Legalization will present problems, yet will yield better results than the current black market turf wars and stray bullets.
Source: 2014 Kansas Senate campaign website batson4senate.weebly.com
Aug 31, 2014
Sean Haugh:
End the Drug War
In the first ever US Senate Libertarian candidates forum, Sean Haugh outlined several areas where his views contrasted with those of his opponent, Tim D'Annunzio, including:- The Drug War (Haugh would end it; D'Annunzio is ambivalent)
-
Immigration (Haugh favors free movement across borders; D'Annunzio advocates curbs on immigration)
- US military intervention abroad (Haugh opposes it; D'Annunzio believes there are circumstances where it is justified)
Source: 2014 North Carolina Senate campaign website, SeanHaugh.com
Jul 2, 2014
Connie Johnson:
End the War on Drugs and its mandatory minimums
Oklahoma ranks number one in the world in female incarceration, and fourth in incarceration of men. These numbers are the result of the War on Drugs and its "tough on crime" and "mandatory minimums" legislation that is separating families and destroying
neighborhoods and communities across Oklahoma and the country.Low-level drug offenders, primarily poor people and people of color, face wildly disproportionate prison sentences, at a cost to Oklahoma taxpayers of over $500 million per year.
As an Oklahoma State Senator, Connie introduced a variety of sentencing reform measures, including eliminating "life without parole" as a possible punishment for drug offenses; eliminating three-strikes-you're out sentencing for non-violent offenses;
creating structured sentencing guidelines; decriminalizing marijuana; legalizing medical marijuana; and, establishing post-incarceration grace periods for court fees and restitution.
Source: 2014 Okla. Senate campaign website, cj4ok.com
Jun 25, 2014
Jeff Bell:
Opposes drug legalization and marijuana decriminalization
The mini-wave of state laws to encourage marijuana use and distribution is one of the stupider trends in recent American public policy. Decriminalizing or legalizing pot will produce many more pot users. This will hurt our schools, our neighborhoods, our
places of work, and families. We must view narcotics as an integral threat to society because they risk harm not just for the user, but those around him. In that light, it is extremely disappointing that the Obama Justice Department is ignoring federal
law by allowing two states, Colorado and Washington, to proceed in legalizing marijuana. Congress must insist on the enforcement of the federal prohibition on narcotics. Otherwise we risk a society that is further broken by drug use when drugs are
freely available for abuse.Just like with marijuana, we should not relax our laws against cocaine. Cocaine is more potent and transferable in crack rather than powder form, which is why penalties for crack possession have always been harsher.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, Bell2014.com, "Issues"
May 2, 2014
Bruce Skarin:
War on drugs creates more problems than it solves
It is time for responsible drug-law reform, because the war on drugs is creating more problems worldwide than it is solving. With smart, sensible drug policy reform we can relieve the strain put on our nation's courts and prison system and begin to
focus on treating all substance abuse problems equally. We also need to make simultaneous reforms in our education system to ensure that youth are on a path to becoming healthy and productive citizens.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, bruce2014.org "Social Policy"
Mar 15, 2014
Murray Sabrin:
Abolish the nation's drug laws, lock, stock, and barrel
We must go beyond just revamping the drug laws by ending minimum sentences for drug offenders. We need to abolish the nation's drug laws, lock, stock, and barrel.
That will end drug gang violence in the cities. That will end the police killing innocent people in so-called "collateral damage" in drug raids.
The nation's drug laws have been a colossal failure. Drug abuse is a serious health issue, not a criminal issue. This is an issue that has to be addressed by families, by communities--but not by government.
The more we believe that government can solve our problems, the more and deeper we will get into debt. We need to end the drug laws, lock, stock, and barrel, and by doing so we will create a freer America.
Source: 2014 Senate campaign website, www.MurraySabrin.com
Oct 24, 2013
Page last updated: Dec 07, 2018