Basic Tenets (or "It's the Constitution, my friend!")

By William Griffith

Many people ask me about my positions on popular common issues. Though I have provided brief answers here, I encourage a visit to my website (http://www.williamgriffith.us) for full statements on these - and many other - issues.

• Illegal Immigration - I am irrevocably opposed to any amnesty program, and will work to stem the tide of illegals flowing into this coutry (manned fence/wall), enforce EXISTING laws, and punish anyone at the individual or commercial/corporate level for hiring illegal immigrants. What is it about the word "ILLEGAL" that is so difficult to comprehend?

• Iraq "war" - Though I am 100% PRO-military, war is to be declared by CONGRESS ONLY. There has not been a Congressionally (therefore CONSTITUTIONALLY) declared war since December 1941. I favor ending our involvement in Iraq ASAP. Our beef is with Al Qaeda - WHERE is Osama??? Are you not as tired as I am of being misled into one undeclared "war" after another? Korea and Vietnam were only the beginning of U.N.-induced wars. And it still goes on...and on...and on.

• Abortion - Against it, with possible (case-by-case) exceptions in the case of mother's health, incest, or rape. Adoption and pre-natal care should be HIGHLY encouraged - AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL. This is NOT a Federal issue. Using the Constitutional "power" granted to Congress under Article I, Section 8, and, specifically, under Article III, Section 2, I will seek to make moot the supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade - returning jurisdiction to the States and the People (see Amendment X - "Bill of Rights").

• Gun Control - Use both hands! If "gun control" laws actually worked to curtail (armed) crime and killing, there would be no crime and killing. "Gun control" is a necessary step by a government to acquire complete control of its citizens. I am unalterably opposed to "gun control legislation" in any of its insidious forms. When gun control laws are passed, only law-abiding citizens comply, and are therefore left defenseless. The 2nd Amendment - in fact, the entire "Bill of Rights" - is unambiguous in its restraints on the federal government. I will work tirelessly to require the federal government to comply with the "Bill of Rights" (more aptly named, it would be the "Bill of Restrictions on Federal Government"!)

I am a Constitutional conservative - my only allegiance is to God, to the U.S. Constitution, and to my constituents (in that order).

- William David Griffith, Spring 2006