The Republican Platform For Montana 2008 (National Affairs Subsection)

NATIONAL AFFAIRS
National Sovereignty
We as a state demand that the Federal Government fulfill its constitutional responsibilities to secure our Montana borders, as defined by the 1889 Constitution. We further affirm that we oppose the Patriot Act and all of its versions or other instruments that erode our individual liberties.
We strongly support the immediate removal of all illegal aliens and allow our local law enforcement carry out that removal of such aliens.
Freedom and Liberty
We the People of the great state of Montana have always cherished freedom and self-reliance. We hold fast to the principles that our founding fathers held most dear, self-determination and small government, state's rights and equality for all its citizens. It is therefore our determination to declare that the United States Constitution has been and should always be the "Supreme Law of the Land." All state and federal government agencies and policies should be deemed, Constitutional in their effects, laws and practices. Therefore, we as the people of the great state of Montana declare that the United States Constitution be upheld in all of its entirety, until such time as the proper Amendment processes determines the course of change.
We affirm that the Montana Republican Party is the party of freedom, and we support individual freedom and liberty for all law-abiding citizens of the United States of America. We adamantly oppose any attempts, whether direct or indirect, to destroy and/or undermine the Constitution of the United States and its Amendments, including the Bill of Rights.
Right to Bear Arms
We oppose the concept of "gun free zones" in any form or in any place except detention facilities. Depriving victims of the means to protect themselves and others does not make anyone safer and violates the Montana Constitution. We affirm that the right to bear arms is a right the people of Montana have reserved for themselves, individually, from interference by government agents and government employees. We oppose any restrictions on the type or number of firearms any law-abiding citizen may own or possess. We completely support the unfettered right for citizens to use firearms to lawfully defend themselves without fear of prosecution or government interference ("called in question") for having done so.
We urge the repeal of the Brady Bill Law.
We oppose any system of national registration of firearm owners and their firearms and the setting of limits on the quantities of firearms and ammunition that are owned by an individual.
National Defense
We believe in peace through strength. Worldwide political instability clearly demonstrates the need for the continued maintenance of military strength to meet the challenge anywhere in the world, with an emphasis on research and development, conventional forces, and refinement of strategic defense initiative technology.
We support continuing efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation, but totally oppose any suggestions of unilateral disarmament on the part of the United States, or placing any troops or military resources under United Nations or foreign command or the deployment of United Nations or foreign Troops on United States soil for any reason.
We support our country's right to defend itself against terrorism by military and economic means pursuant to the United States Constitution.
We oppose any further transfer of high technology that could be used for military purposes to any country whose political and military purposes are, or could be, a threat to the United States.
We fully support efforts to ensure that defense dollars are spent in the most productive and efficient manner, however, we are concerned about cutting defense too much and too quickly in a very unstable world.
We deeply appreciate the young men and women who serve in our country's armed forces and believe their lives and safety should be placed at risk only when our nation's security is threatened, and only under the command of our own nation's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
We acknowledge unlimited indebtedness to those serving in the armed forces of this nation who have sacrificed so much to secure the blessings of freedom for us all. We urge that those in charge of veterans' affairs to accelerate efforts of the appropriate agencies to meet the medical and physical needs of those impaired in the service of our country.
National Security, State Security, and Immigration
We strongly support stricter control of our national borders.
We demand the federal government enforce immigration laws and prevent illegal aliens from entering and affecting job opportunities for United States citizens and compromising our national security.
We support the withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations. We demand that Montana join western states and all others in opposing the North American Union (NAU) in withdrawing from the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and that Congress resume their duty of regulating Commerce with Foreign Nations. We greatly appreciate the work our Legislators have done by supporting HJ25 opposing the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.
We strongly support the use of the English language as the only language of our country for ' national and public purposes.
Inflation and Employment
We feel that vigilance must be used in continuing to control inflation, as this represents one of the greatest threats to the well being of all Americans.
We encourage efforts to improve the business climate, support entrepreneurship, foster free and fair trade, expand employment, and lessen dependence on assistance programs.
We support a return to a gold and silver based monetary system and a strong dollar policy based on intrinsic asset values and not a debased-fiat monetary policy.
Budget and Taxation
We support all efforts to reduce government spending to balance the budget. A balanced budget will be accomplished by less government spending and not by a general tax increase.
We oppose cost shifting to the states via unfunded federal mandates.
We support efforts to eliminate the Internal Revenue Service and rewrite the tax code to be based on a consumption tax.
Criminal Justice
We deplore the violation of the civil rights of victims of crimes and urge the judicial system to recognize the rights of victims, administer justice, and punish criminals. We advocate laws prescribing victim compensation to be paid out of fines and/or assets forfeited by convicted criminals. We support the attempts, by statute, to greatly limit the use of insanity pleas and to limit the scope of parole possibilities for repeat offenders.
We urge the inclusion of a jury to be fully informed and allowed to judge the validity of the law as well as the accused.
We support efforts to eliminate the sale, importation, or use of illegal substances. We urge cooperation and shared funding between federal and local agencies in enforcement of narcotics statutes. We advocate stiff mandatory prison terms for persons convicted of violent crimes, including crimes against children; such as drug dealing to minors, sex offenses involving children, and production or distribution of child pornography.
We are concerned about the lack of progress in the War on Drugs, and we believe that more effort should be made to stem demand and supply of illegal substances. We stand opposed to the legalization or use of presently illegal drugs.
Within those parameters set down by the United States Supreme Court, we support the right of each state to determine in what cases the death penalty would be imposed. We oppose the undue interference of federal courts in the right of each individual state to carry out its death penalty statutes. We urge the federal government to limit appeals in death penalty cases.
Many citizens are stripped of valuable property without guilt being ascertained or criminal charges being filed. We express grave concern over the increased use and legislative expansion of asset forfeiture laws or illegal property seizure by agencies of the federal government. To prevent agency abuse, we advocate that proceeds of all asset forfeitures be set aside for victim compensation only. We deplore the misuse of the RICO statute by any federal agent or agencies. We urge Congress to narrow the scope and applicability of federal seizure laws.
We unequivocally support the history and use of habeas corpus. Political Freedom
We support the efforts of the people of the world to achieve national and personal freedom and their right to participate fully in self-government.
We recognize and support full citizenship rights and responsibilities of all Americans.
Energy
In the interest of national security we must become more energy independent; therefore, we urge, through private enterprise, the development of energy resources, including alternative forms of energy, which will enable the United States to become less dependent on foreign energy suppliers.
Public land managers must consider the alternative energy potential of public lands when formulating land management practices.
All cost effective forms of energy shall have equal access to the grid as specified by deregulation.
We strongly support expedited utilization of Montana's natural resources to provide for Montana's energy and economic needs.
Telecommunications Policy
We believe that private industry will provide a viable information highway for the future if all government agencies will provide a supportive environment.
We oppose federal telephone excise taxes and further government-imposed taxes, fees, or charges on telecommunications or the internet in any forms.
We believe a modern telecommunications network will bring substantial benefits to the entire nation in areas such as economic development, education and health care.
Equal Rights
We recognize our Party's historic commitment to equal rights and equality of opportunity for every citizen regardless of gender, age, race, national origin, religion, creed, or physical impairment. We also encourage and support citizen participation in all levels of government, especially elective offices at the local, state, and national levels. We support equal opportunity laws and the elimination of discrimination, including reverse discrimination.
We affirm the equal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all individuals. We affirm the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of each human being from conception to death. Again, we recognize that life begins at conception and must be protected. We oppose cloning complete human beings. We support the private development of adult stem cell research and we support all efforts to stop human trafficking. We support the definition of marriage as only between one man and one woman.
Space
We strongly support the continuation of our nation's space program through NASA and the private sector.
States' Rights
We demand federal withdrawal from those areas of responsibility reserved by the U.S. Constitution to the states and people. We urge our state elected officials to undertake appropriate action, including legal action, to confine federal power within its constitutional limits.
We strongly encourage the Governor of Montana to continue to utilize the authority extended to the Executive Branch by the Montana Legislature, to vigorously defend Montana's right to self-governance under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
We oppose any extension of federal or regional bureaucratic control over water originating in Montana and consider any such action an infringement on states' rights.
We oppose administrative actions that initiate top-down resource management without congressional decision-making such as the Yellowstone snowmobile ban, Scenic Rivers actions, Missouri River Breaks National Monument and roadless initiatives. We call upon our Congressional Delegation to urge strong states' rights policies governing the use of public lands and resources in the West. We commend the passage of the American Lands Sovereignty Act.
We recognize the threat of illegal immigration presents to our national stability and recommend stronger measures be taken against employers who evade existing laws prohibiting employment of undocumented aliens.
We insist that the United States comply with its compact with Montana, as that compact was understood in 1889 for inclusion of statehood.
Social Security
We applaud efforts to maintain the integrity of the Social Security program and urge future efforts to improve program efficiency. Social Security disbursements should be restricted to retirement and survivor benefits, and they should be corrected to mitigate the "notch" effect.
Social Security reserves shall not be used for any other purpose, including retirement of the national debt. Government should not mandate the use of social security numbers for identification purposes.
We further recommend that social security benefits will not be available to those who are not citizens. We also recommend that government medical benefits will not be available to non-citizens.
We recommend that the Social Security taxes be taken out of the general fund and put back into a social security trust fund.
Senior Citizens
We are fully committed to compassionately addressing the needs of our senior citizens, protecting those on fixed incomes, and preserving the health and individual dignity of senior Americans.
We consider the wisdom and experience of senior citizens an untapped national resource and urge all segments of society to respect and utilize this resource.
Bureaucracy
We believe that citizen's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness has been impeded by unnecessary regulation and government intrusion. Control and domination of our personal affairs and the free enterprise system by bureaucratic edict is economically wasteful and destructive to individual freedom and self-determination. We therefore support efforts to eliminate waste and excessive bureaucratic regulation and to liberate the free enterprise system.

National Endowment for the Arts
We are opposed to the use of taxpayer dollars to fund any art. We recognize the cultural importance of the arts and encourage private sector support and financing to promote artistic endeavors.
Flag Desecration
We strongly support an amendment to the Constitution of the United States that would protect the flag from desecration.