Free Speech vs. Firearms

[Alcon]

Although I believe that both should be protected, I personally find the first one to be more important for sustaining democracy. They may be equal constitutitonally, but I'm more concerned with the infringement of free speech than I am with firearms. I thus voted Option 1.

[J. J.]

Both equally, though I could make the argument that firearms help protect the other rights.

[A18]

Firearms, to keep the fed in check.

[Sam Spade]

Both equally, though I could make the argument that firearms help protect the other rights.

[John Dibble]

Let me put it this way - without firearms there wouldn't be a First Amendment. Free speech is pretty important, but firearms are the last and most important line of defense for one's other freedoms.

[??????????]

The Second Amendment keeps the first in existence. Theirs a good quote on that somewhere. I just can't remember it anymore.

[No more McShame]

Both are in the Constitution and are therefore equally important.  We shouldn't be taking parts of the Constitution and declaring them more or less imortant than any others.  That would be a sure path to tyranny.

[John Dibble]

Both are in the Constitution and are therefore equally important.  We shouldn't be taking parts of the Constitution and declaring them more or less imortant than any others.  That would be a sure path to tyranny.

I view both as equally important philisophically, but in a practical manner I think the second is more important because it is the best means of protecting the first.

[AkSaber]

Both equally, though I could make the argument that firearms help protect the other rights.

[opebo]

You gun lovers are so silly!  You cannot fight the State with your little pop-guns.

On the other hand I must admit the Resistance is hanging on in Iraq against the invaders with little more than pop-guns.  Kudos to them and to your Quixotic bravery!

[Akno21]

I'd be a lot madder if you took away free speech than my right to own a gun, that's for sure.

[dazzleman]

I'd be a lot madder if you took away free speech than my right to own a gun, that's for sure.

But taking away all guns would probably lead to the loss of free speech eventually.

In any case, liberals have been trying for a long time to use political correctness to take away our free speech.

[Akno21]

I'd be a lot madder if you took away free speech than my right to own a gun, that's for sure.

But taking away all guns would probably lead to the loss of free speech eventually.

In any case, liberals have been trying for a long time to use political correctness to take away our free speech.

Those people aren't true liberals.

[Hitchabrut]

Option 4. I almost never consider these isssues in a candidate, as I really don't see there impact in comparison to foreign policy, taxes, and abortion.

[nclib]

Free speech is more important in a democracy.

[Bono]

Free speech is more important in a democracy.

So there is no place in the world where free speech is more important. Nice.

[David S]

Both equal and important. "The second amendment... protector of all the rest!"

^^^^^

[ian]

Option 4, actually.
If the freedom of speech were restricted (even more) I don't think I would care too much, and I support banning military weapons for use outside of the military, and many people would consider that a restriction of the 2nd amendment.

[nclib]

Free speech is more important in a democracy.

So there is no place in the world where free speech is more important. Nice.

I meant representative democracy.

[Joe Republic]

Option 4. I almost never consider these isssues in a candidate, as I really don't see there impact in comparison to foreign policy, taxes, and abortion.

Agreed.  They might be important to a lot of people, but not to me.  I'm happy with the current status of free speech in this country, and I don't own or wish to own a gun.

[TexasPatriot2024]

The theory behind the right to bear arms is that you can use them to overthrow an oppressive government.... ex. one that bans the freedom of speech

[A18]

The theory behind the right to bear arms is that you can use them to overthrow an oppressive government.... ex. one that bans the freedom of speech

You mean like ours? See McCain-Feingold.

[Joe Republic]

The theory behind the right to bear arms is that you can use them to overthrow an oppressive government.... ex. one that bans the freedom of speech

You mean like ours? See McCain-Feingold.

Well good luck overthrowing the government Philip.

[Wakie]

3 F-16's will trump 100 rednecks with semi-automatics any day.

[A18]

The theory behind the right to bear arms is that you can use them to overthrow an oppressive government.... ex. one that bans the freedom of speech

You mean like ours? See McCain-Feingold.

Well good luck overthrowing the government Philip.

Where the ing hell did I say I intended to overthrow the government?

You're just proving my point, by the way, on why machine guns should be legalized.

Wakie, take a look at Iraq.