David Weikle

David Weikle (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent South Carolina. He was disqualified from the general election on November 3, 2020.

Weikle was not certified for the 2020 general election ballot.[1]

David Weikle did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

1) I will seek to cut or eliminate taxes wherever possible. I will also seek to cut government spending in every office across our state. I want to shrink the size of our state government across the board. I will seek to shrink, eliminate or privatize as much of our state government and its agencies as possible. Every cut in government spending means more money for the individual taxpayer. I want to repeal H 3516, also known as the gas tax. This act will increase the price of fuel in the state by an additional 12 cents per gallon over the course of 6 years. My opponent was one of the original sponsors of the gas tax. Britton Wolf, a gentleman running for House District 71, has proposed cutting the sales tax in South Carolina in half. I know Britton and consider him a friend in liberty. I would be glad to work with him and any other legislators to help cut taxes for everyone in our state. I will push to eliminate the income tax in South Carolina. It is immoral to tax someone for the work they have done. When you take part of someone’s income as they have earned it, you are saying it was never theirs. We are not in bondage to government, we are not the servants of government. Our governments are in service to us. If you really own your home outright, with no mortgage or any other associated debts, you should have no fear of ever being evicted. However, if you fail to pay your property taxes, eventually you will reach a point where the government will seize your property and auction it off to the highest bidder in order to cover your tax bill. This is immoral and reprehensible. I will push to eliminate property taxes throughout our state. In 1927 Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendall Holmes, Jr. said: “Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.” I understand the value that taxes have in our society. I’m acquainted with the fact that at many times we have had rebellions because of taxes. I’m comfortable paying taxes to ensure that our nation is not invaded. I’m comfortable paying taxes to ensure that some form of law enforcement is present in our communities. What I’m not comfortable with, and quite despise, is the use of tax dollars to help fund private projects. I will push for legislation to ban the use of tax dollars to help fund private projects.

2) Advocates for firearms freedoms have been on the defensive for too long. Gun control activists have pushed for more so-called “common sense” reform every time there is a tragedy. Few organizations and people have decided to go on the offensive. I am seeking to do my part to change this as I enter the arena of South Carolina politics. Gun rights are a civil rights issue, and the continued attacks and infringements from all levels of government must be addressed. We don’t force someone to pass a background check to protest or buy and sell books and magazines; why should we pass a background check to buy a gun? We don’t mandate that poster boards should be serialized so they can be traced back to the owner in the event they are used in a crime; all guns sold in the U.S. are required to be serialized for just such a purpose. We don’t regulate the use of printers, copiers, and other modern machines used in the expression of free speech; we do regulate the length of a barrel and the overall length of various firearms, and well as certain accessories. It’s time for South Carolinians to go on the offensive and to take back our natural rights. As a legislator in the state House of Representatives, I will push for many important pieces of legislation. Constitutional Carry; a free man does not ask for permission to exercise his rights, and a free man should not be punished for justly exercising his rights. I will push for legislation to allow open and concealed carry with or without a permit. I will seek to abolish the current permitting system and push for an amendment to the state Constitution that will use plain language to recognize the right to carry. I will push for a Firearms Freedom Act in South Carolina, and will push for a Constitutional amendment as well, to ensure maximum individual liberty and minimum government. I support the nullification of all federal laws and regulations that violate the civil rights of our citizens including the National Firearms Act, the Gun Control Act and any and all bans of firearms and accessories. I will push for the abolishment of gun-free zones throughout South Carolina, while protecting the private property rights of individuals that do not want firearms on their property. I will push for legislation that will allow teachers to be armed if they so choose, so that they may protect themselves and their students in the event of an active shooter scenario. I will push for teachers to receive paid firearms training from competent instructors. I will strengthen preemption legislation in South Carolina to combat municipalities that seek to skirt the letter and the spirit of the law. Individuals, legislators, executives and other civil servants must be individually punished and held accountable when they seek to preempt state law with limitations on an individual’s right to purchase, possess or carry firearms. I will push recognition of all carry permits.

3) The Base Load Review Act (BLRA) 0f 2007 must be repealed. There needs to be an independent investigation in regards to the V.C. Summer nuclear debacle. Those investigators should come from out-of-state to ensure a truly independent investigation. If crimes have been committed, responsible individuals need to be prosecuted and held accountable. The BLRA has highlighted the fact that the system of energy monopolies in our state benefits corporations over individual ratepayers. There is no reason why we shouldn’t be able to choose a different energy provider as easily as picking a new cell phone. As things stand now, choosing a new power company would require you to physically move to another location. Opening up the market to competition will benefit the individual ratepayers and families across our state. Power rates and services would improve as consumers regain control over the market. If Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and others have to compete for my patronage, why shouldn’t SCE&G, Duke Energy, etc. compete? Free market competition works when the market is free. Government involvement in the energy market in South Carolina has to be heavily curtailed. South Carolina needs to sell off Santee Cooper, allow for utilities to operate in the same areas and let the individual customer choose who they will do business with. Deregulating the market and allowing new competition will ultimately benefit everyone in our state and will save individuals and families money in the long run.[3][4]

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?

I’ve been passionate about individual liberty for as long as I can remember. I’m a proud patriot and I signed my contract to enlist in the United States Marine Corps when I was 17. During my 4 years in the Marines I saw many things and met many people that have influenced my life. While on deployment to Iraq, I saw what big government gone wrong can look like. I made it a personal mission to do everything in my power to stop it from happening back home. Individual liberty comes with responsibility. Government is not meant to be a nanny. I don’t care what you do with your life as long as it doesn’t affect the individual liberty of others. I want to roll back the size and scope of our government here in South Carolina. I want to cut taxes because I want each of us to keep more of our money. I also want to cut taxes because it’s not right to force you to pay for something you don’t want or need. I support cutting government spending because every dollar that a citizen keeps makes them that much richer. I support firearms freedom because I believe every life has value and everyone has the natural right to protect their life and liberty.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[4]

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