What is your vision for being our district’s Congressperson?

As a U.S. Congressperson, how would you seek to protect the most vulnerable in our nation, including the lives of the unborn, the trafficked, and the elderly?

I will do everything in my power to protect ALL living beings. When discussing abortion, the argument often made is about when life begins. That is more often a religious or even philosophical argument. I will have that discussion with anyone. However, in the manner of our constitution and the rights bestowed in them, ones belief can not be forced upon another household. One of our rights is that of bodily autonomy. If we allow the government to take that right away, when will it ever stop?

What will you do as U.S. Congressperson to protect Americans’ 1st Amendment rights to: the free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, peaceably assembly, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances, all of which are becoming more difficult to exercise in America (and around the world)?

I love this amendment and will ensure that every American’s right to practice any religion they please will always be protected and never infringed upon by the government. This is why the separation of church and state is so important. The government cannot deem any one religion above any other as it would infringe on the rights of other’s beliefs and religions. Freedom of Speech, peaceably assembly, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances should never be taken away. I do want to say that in all this, in life we are given the ability to choose what we do. With freedoms, come consequences and we as a nation must be accountable for our choices, good or bad.

Do you believe that gun ownership is a civil right, and what are your positions in regards to red flag laws, magazine capacity bans, legislation that regulates gun storage, and permitless “Constitutional carry”?

The 2nd amendment simply states that the government may not infringe on our rights to guns. This is American and no one will ever infringe on the rights to own a gun. As a responsible gun owner, however, I take gun safety very seriously and I do believe that this right comes with “well regulated” laws. We need are a nation of laws and we can work together to ensure that those who have abused their right to owning a firearm or are mentally unsuitable, should not have access to for the safety of our children and society.

With U.S. debt now exceeding $30 trillion and inflation around a 40-year high, what do you believe are the core problems with America’s economic and monetary policy, and what will you seek to do as a U.S. Congressperson to correct them?

First we need to have a better understanding of what our debt really is about. Is inflation truly caused by our debt? I don’t believe so but am no expert. I will do my due diligence in finding and communicating those answers to our community so that we can find solutions together. No one is working to actually find the answers to this which is why we are not seeing any help. Congress is currently too busy blaming others. I will not do that.

Although the Constitution gives Congress the sole authority to declare war, this was last done 80 years ago, and since then the President has taken us to war. What are your positions on America acting as “global policeman” and what Congress’ role should be in international conflict, especially in light of the current Russia-Ukraine war, and our nation’s tensions with Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and other world powers?

The US has relied too much on our troops and defense spending is out of control. Having to decide that our global policing is no longer beneficial comes with accepting certain limits on how much we can influence other country’s. There is a fine line here and I believe it is Congress’ responsibility to deliberate what role we are prepared to take in the world and involve experts that we have to ensure we are protected and that we are prepared to make decisions on conflicts in other parts of the world. Each situation is unique and we should define our duty.