In the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando that left 49 victims dead, Johnson says Americans would be safer if guns were more readily available, not more restricted

Orlando shooting at Pulse nightclub


"All these atrocities have been happening in gun-free zones," he declares. "If there were law-abiding citizens that were carrying weapons — I'm not saying they would lessen the impact of these horrible atrocities, but maybe, maybe they could."

Johnson says the laws permitting "concealed carry" in some states have reduced violent crime. A criminal might think, he suggests, "Gee, do I try to steal this woman's purse in this parking lot, or seven or eight of these people who are around here, are they carrying weapons and I might get hurt, so I'm going to not accost her." Over the past five years, he himself has purchased two guns, kept at his home in Taos, for self-protection.

He also sees possession of guns as a bulwark against government tyranny.

"I mean, there have been atrocious drug raids and atrocious drug raids that have resulted in the death of individuals that were completely innocent," he says. "I would just ask the question, if the DEA knew they were raiding someone's home where they had automatic weapons, if that was just a known element of 'we're going to raid these people,' would they have raided them in the first place, just knowing that they had that deterrent?"

Even so, Johnson also says he has a "nuanced" view of the Libertarian Party platform plank, which opposes "all laws at any level of government" restricting guns. "We should be open to a discussion on keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill," he says. "I don't know how that manifests itself, but I'm looking to get elected president of the United States. I just want to let people know I have an open mind about how we might, how government might, interject itself in a lot of the problems we have."

I don't trust politicians. Especially the ones who have invited Hillary to their wedding.

Maybe you aren't paranoid enough.

I think Trump gets a kick out of playing with the media.

So conservatives disliked their own elected officials so much they voted in the class clown to straighten things out??? My old man would have said you cut off your nose to spit your face..

So your ok with him knocking on your door. Taking your guns because you said something to someone.. then government folks deciding if you meet their idea of nuts or not??? Cops couldn't find time to run the list of folks that could end up with them knocking on your door..Probably some of us on this post.

Mac

BTW diggerman, just how much money did your gangster union bosses spend, of your money, to elect Hillary???????????????????????

They spent 100% of my money, Apparently you have to be "vested" for 10 years or they steal your retirement.

"If you don't know where you are going any road you take will get you there"

Bryce