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William Tell
03-03-2015, 11:44 AM
http://cdn.tribtalk.org/media/authors/David_Simpson-TTalk.jpg
(http://tribtalk.org/author/david-simpson/)
As a Christian, I recognize the innate goodness of everything God made and humanity’s charge to be stewards of the same.

In fact, it’s for this reason that I’m especially cautious when it comes to laws banning plants. I don’t believe that when God made marijuana he made a mistake that government needs to fix.

Regrettably, that’s not the course we have pursued on more than one occasion. In the name of protecting the public, certain substances have been declared evil and contraband. So evil are these substances that state and federal agents are empowered to enforce laws with little to no regard for constitutional protections of individual rights, the sanctity of one’s home or the right to travel freely.

You would think that our country’s history with alcohol prohibition — an era marked by bootlegging, organized crime, government corruption and a rise in crime in general — would have prevented us from making the same mistake again.

But our current “war on drugs” policies, though well intended, have accomplished the exact opposite, spurring a proliferation of ever-changing exotic designer drugs and a disregard for constitutional protections in the name of eliminating drugs at any cost. Just think of no-knock warrants, stop-and-frisk, civil asset forfeiture and billionaire drug lords.

The time has come for a thoughtful discussion of the prudence of the prohibition approach to drug abuse, the impact of prohibition enforcement on constitutionally protected liberties and the responsibilities that individuals must take for their own actions.

The Bible warns about excessive drinking, eating and sleeping (Proverbs 23:21), but it doesn’t ban the activities or the substances or conditions associated with them — alcohol, food and fatigue. Elsewhere, feasting and wine are recognized as blessings from God.

Scripture stresses respect for our neighbor’s liberty and conscience, moderation for all and abstinence for some.

Should we be concerned for our friends and neighbors who abuse a substance or activity? Yes, we should help them through sincere and voluntary engagement, but not with force and violence.

Is there a place for prohibition? Yes, a prohibition of aggression (Romans 13). Our laws should prohibit and penalize violent acts. This is the jurisdiction of the magistrates under the new covenant — harm to one’s neighbor.

Civil government should value everything God made and leave people alone unless they meddle with their neighbor.
State representative,
David Simpson (http://tribtalk.org/author/david-simpson/)
State representative, R-Longview
@davidsimpsontx (https://twitter.com/davidsimpsontx)




http://tribtalk.org/2015/03/02/the-christian-case-for-drug-law-reform/

DamianTV
03-03-2015, 06:49 PM
When the Legal Consequences of using a substance are more severe than the Medical Consequencers of using a substance, you have Injustice.

If that is the case, why is it not Illegal to use Bleach as a Drug? Should that not result in the Death Penalty?
(debatable from a fun perspective, not logical...)

presence
03-03-2015, 07:01 PM
I will steadfastly fight for limited government and freedom under the rule of law:

Reduce government spending (http://davidsimpson.com/issues/#2) — especially wasteful, unnecessary, overlapping programs and agencies.
Secure the border (http://davidsimpson.com/issues/#3),reform the immigration system, and end benefits to illegal immigrants.
Enforce the 10th Amendment (http://davidsimpson.com/issues/#4) to stop oppressive, controlling, over-reaching Federal encroachments of State and individual rights.
Protect human life (http://davidsimpson.com/issues/#5)— especially the unborn, the weak, and the elderly.
Protect individual liberty (http://davidsimpson.com/issues/#6) — your health care decisions, your privacy, your speech, your religion, and your right to peacefully protest.
Protect private property (http://davidsimpson.com/issues/#7) from abuse of eminent domain where fair market value is not offered nor paid.
Contend for the individual right to keep and bear arms. (http://davidsimpson.com/issues/#8)
Protect the freedom to travel. (http://davidsimpson.com/issues/#9)

Protect a free market development of resources. (http://davidsimpson.com/issues/#10)
Protect health care freedom, responsibility and privacy. (http://davidsimpson.com/issues/#11)



this guy is a winner

how have we missed him?

William Tell
03-03-2015, 07:05 PM
this guy is a winner

how have we missed him?

Most in the Texas Liberty Movement know about him. He supported Ron Paul both cycles. He supported Medina for Governor and lots of other liberty candidates. He's pure.

Kotin
03-03-2015, 07:09 PM
have been a big fan of him and Rep.Stickland for a while now.. this guy is taking an interesting approach.. very balsy.. i am for it 100% but I just am trying to see how its practical..


to neutralize the cop and drug war crowd you need to say it will be regulated like alcohol and blah blah blah taxes taxes taxes... I love that he didnt do this.. but can it pass as such a pure piece of legislation .. what a statement it would make..

Working Poor
03-03-2015, 08:21 PM
have been a big fan of him and Rep.Stickland for a while now.. this guy is taking an interesting approach.. very balsy.. i am for it 100% but I just am trying to see how its practical..


to neutralize the cop and drug war crowd you need to say it will be regulated like alcohol and blah blah blah taxes taxes taxes... I love that he didnt do this.. but can it pass as such a pure piece of legislation .. what a statement it would make..

Screw the drug war crowd they need to learn them some real Christian principals.

jurgs01
03-03-2015, 09:28 PM
this guy is a winner

how have we missed him?

You just have to know where to look. There is some really groundbreaking work going on in about 10 state legislatures across the country. The 10th Amendment Center has their fingerprints on a lot of it.

Keep an eye on:
Maine, New Hampshire, Utah, Arizona, Texas, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Missouri and Tennessee. There are a few other states with some fighters too.

paleocon1
03-04-2015, 08:44 AM
Hmmmmmm, lots of glittering generalities, BUT where has he been on specifics such as Rick Perry rent seeking from the Guv mansion as he forced gardasil- a very dangerous vaxx on the teen girls of Texas?

jmdrake
03-04-2015, 08:50 AM
this guy is a winner

how have we missed him?

Because he's only at the state legislative level and we have no comprehensive way to track all pro liberty candidates at all levels for every state? We know about Glenn Bradley because he posts here. That said, this underscores a general weakness of the liberty movement. How do we go about systematically grooming the bench? Oh we moneybombed for Ron and we'll moneybomb for Rand, but if we raised at that level on off years and spread it around to guys like this running state and locally we'd be a power to be reckoned with.

William Tell
03-04-2015, 09:45 AM
https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/10408546_358453394349235_767761215214404916_n.png? oh=fde6e4d441c1fccc13570202adc8fa41&oe=558A59DA

jurgs01
03-04-2015, 10:27 AM
Because he's only at the state legislative level and we have no comprehensive way to track all pro liberty candidates at all levels for every state? We know about Glenn Bradley because he posts here. That said, this underscores a general weakness of the liberty movement. How do we go about systematically grooming the bench? Oh we moneybombed for Ron and we'll moneybomb for Rand, but if we raised at that level on off years and spread it around to guys like this running state and locally we'd be a power to be reckoned with.

That's literally what I do in my spare time. I also make the information free on a website, and post daily Twitter and Facebook updates about these type of candidates. I don't have enough time to be 100% comprehensive, but it's a start.

HVACTech
03-04-2015, 10:55 AM
https://scontent-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/s720x720/10408546_358453394349235_767761215214404916_n.png? oh=fde6e4d441c1fccc13570202adc8fa41&oe=558A59DA

I think this is the very best idea. legalizing it gives tacit approval. simply removing the prohibition does not.

Sola_Fide
03-04-2015, 11:32 AM
That's pretty impressive. He's on my radar now.

acptulsa
03-04-2015, 11:38 AM
When the Legal Consequences of using a substance are more severe than the Medical Consequencers of using a substance, you have Injustice.

If that is the case, why is it not Illegal to use Bleach as a Drug? Should that not result in the Death Penalty?
(debatable from a fun perspective, not logical...)

Arguably, every crime with no victim is injustice. Self-protection laws with worse consequences than the 'crime' itself could possibly conceive are more than unjust--they are patently stupid.

The last thing we need are more cures worse than the diseases. But Washington keeps churning them out--wholesale.

William Tell
04-19-2015, 09:27 PM
Because he's only at the state legislative level and we have no comprehensive way to track all pro liberty candidates at all levels for every state? We know about Glenn Bradley because he posts here. That said, this underscores a general weakness of the liberty movement. How do we go about systematically grooming the bench? Oh we moneybombed for Ron and we'll moneybomb for Rand, but if we raised at that level on off years and spread it around to guys like this running state and locally we'd be a power to be reckoned with.
Yep, yep. I'm hoping people will get on board with this.