Sam Sloan, the runner-up for the New York Libertarian Party's gubernatorial nomination in 2010, criticized Carl Person, a candidate for the Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination, for taking a general stand in favor of the Second Amendment and for repeal of gun control laws without being specific regarding what he would support and what he would not support. Mr. Sloan, a staunch libertarian activist, said he was "disgusted by the many socialist positions on issues Carl Person has taken over the past few months" and "that Libertarian Party delegates will not be fooled by this last-ditch effort to revive his candidacy by stating obvious libertarian positions on issues". Referring to Carl Person, Sam Sloan said, "A cracked Liberty Bell doesn't ring, no matter how many times you strike it!"
In a Press Release dated January 11, 2012 forwarded to Independent Political Report by Chris Doscher, Carl Person's Campaign Manager (who couldn't even catch that throughout the release Tucson, Arizona is spelled "Tuscon"), Carl Person is quoted, in part, as saying::
Gun control activists have used the one-year anniversary of the Tuscon, Arizona shootings as a springboard for their agenda of stripping away our Second Amendment right to bear arms. Years of threats to our right to bear arms have produced zero evidence that increased gun control prevents violence.
The Tuscon shootings, while tragic, were the result of one mentally disturbed individual’s actions and should not be taken as a sign that our Second Amendment rights should be further restricted...
Americans clearly will have to take more responsibility for keeping themselves, their families and their neighbors safe. As president, I will robustly defend our right to bear arms and repeal gun control laws that restrict our ability to defend ourselves and our property.
Sam Sloan responded as follows:
It is certainly true that gun control activists use every shooting of an innocent person, accidental or not, as a springboard to argue for more gun control and it is also true that increased gun control has not reduced violence but look carefully at Carl Person's position on this issue. He says the shootings in Tucson "should not be taken as a sign that our Second Amendment rights should be further restricted". From that quotation alone, one might conclude Mr. Person is O.K. with the restrictions the Second Amendment, as interpreted by the Courts, currently place on gun ownership and use.
Mr. Person's second relevant quotation says, "I will robustly defend our right to bear arms and repeal gun control laws that restrict our ability to defend ourselves and our property". Here he says he will repeal those "gun control laws that restrict our ability to defend ourselves and our property". But what about other gun control laws that restrict ownership of guns not directly tied to the defense of ourselves and our property?
Will he support open-carry and concealed carry laws that allowing peaceable citizens to carry firearms without a permit?
Will he allow citizens to own semi-automatic weapons for pleasure?
Will he allow Americans to own whatever guns they want for sport?
Will he oppose legislation placing further restrictions on the sale of weapons at gun shows?
Will he support repeal of the background checks currently required by the Federal Government?
Does he support or oppose the registration of weapons?
Does he support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms?
On these and other issues, Carl Person does not tell us where he stands, and this is, probably, by intention. I know Carl Person personally and I can assure you he is no libertarian and, in my opinion, when he sought the nomination of the Green Party for Attorney General of New York in 2006 and 2010, he espoused positions on issues not in any way consistent with the Libertarian Party's National Platform.
Taking a tepid position in support of the repeal of gun control laws does nothing to change Carl's image as a Milquetoast Libertarian Candidate for President with more Socialist than Libertarian leanings. If his candidacy is any reflection of the current state of affairs in the Libertarian Party, I would say they are in significant trouble.
Sam Sloan is a member of the national Libertarian Party and the Libertarian Party of Queens County. He maintains residences in California and New York State.
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