There are many people who feel that it is useless and futile to continue talking about peace and non-violence against a government whose only reply is savage attacks on an unarmed and defenceless people.
Potentially a government is the most dangerous threat to man's rights: it holds a legal monopoly on the use of physical force against legally disarmed victims.
An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.
If I am outspoken of the dangers of intemperance to members of our armed forces it is because we are all especially concerned for the welfare of those who are risking their lives in the cause of freedom.
Freedom does not come without a price. We may sometimes take for granted the many liberties we enjoy in America but they have all been earned through the ultimate sacrifice paid by so many of the members of our armed forces.
History has taught us over and over again that freedom is not free. When push comes to shove the ultimate protectors of freedom and liberty are the brave men and women in our armed forces. Throughout our history they've answered the call in bravery and sacrifice.
Every friend of freedom must be as revolted as I am by the prospect of turning the United States into an armed camp by the vision of jails filled with casual drug users and of an army of enforcers empowered to invade the liberty of citizens on slight evidence.
Americans need never fear their government because of the advantage of being armed which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation.
The traditional spokespersons for the Evangelicals such as Chuck Colson and James Dobson have become alarmed about this drift away from the 'Family Values' issues that they believe should be the overwhelming concerns of Evangelicals. They have expressed their displeasure in letters of protest circulated through the religious media.
Mr. Speaker I am deeply concerned that many regions of this world are suffering from the effects of armed conflicts with religious aspects. I believe that the differences of faith are not the real reason for these conflicts.