Originally posted by Josephus I
Mr. President.
I'd like to bring your attention to an anxiety of mine.
I am worried that Eutopia, a modern, westernized nation is about to become the next Lebanon or Rwanda.
I am specifially referring to the ease with which we are able to arm private citizens and the formation of private militias.
For example, entering the CC headquarters is tougher than crossing North/South Korean borders.
We have a State-owned armaments dealer willing to supply security forces (really, private citizens) with high-grade superior weapons. I think first and formeost we should only allow this company to sell only to state enterprises (military/police). Private security guards should not be armed with anything other than a sidearm. [even that, I think is too much].
I think we should also pass a law banning private militias and look into gun/weapon ownership restrictions. Do we really need citizens walking around with SAMs
Also, rather than praising vigilantism (the Wlaks) we should condone it. We should not allow citizens to take the law in their own hands. This is a dangerous situation.
I look forward to hearing comments from the governmetn and the president.
What a flight back from France! I'd hate to have to make it everyday....
It sounds then like this issue has been resolved in my absence? (OOC: with GM rulings?)
My only comment is in reference to the escalating level of violence on the island, and that is we have already seen that the existing terrorists have been able to illegally smuggle arms onto this island, arms that were used in an attempted bank robbery.
Laws "outlawing" private militias and specific arms will obviously have no impact on these groups, as they have little regard for the law right now.
While two wrongs do not make a right, and I am not suggesting that in any way, it is interesting to note that despite this spritied discussion about the Wlaks and political party security there hasn't been this kind of effort or interest in curbing the actions of the revolutionaries who are actively destroying property, who have killed, and but for the independent actions of others would have killed again.
Mr. Fitzpatrick and Mr. Josephus, knowing the strong commitment both of you have to preserving civil rights and personal freedoms, perhaps you would volunteer to help craft an anti-terrorism proposal that would combat the revolutionary behavior but that would not turn us into a police state nor leave private citizens with no options but vigilantism in their defense?
Again, please be clear that I am in no way supporting private groups wielding anti-aircraft missles or depleted-uranium armored tanks. I simply think that rather than attacking misguided solutions to the problem our efforts should be focused on finding a BETTER solution to the problem: politically motivated violence aimed at our citizens and government.
Jack Teano
