Keith Gann: Advocate of personal freedom

RACE FOR 46TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Name: Keith Gann

Age: 45

Occupation: Manager at a technology company

Family: Married with two sons, ages 20 and 22.

Community activities: Gann ran for the 39th Congressional District

in 2000, losing to Rep. Ed Royce. He plays rugby on a semi-pro team

in Huntington Beach.

Education: Bachelor’s from Cal State Northridge in 1980.

GANN ON:

* THE ECONOMY:

The government can promote prosperity by being as uninvolved as

possible with the economy. The purpose of the federal government is

to keep us free. Free to live our lives as we see fit, free from

violence against our person and property and free from foreign

invaders. These are the only things that should be funded by general

taxation.

* THE WAR ON DRUGS:

The one thing that would go furthest toward restoring freedom is

to immediately end the insane war on drugs. There is no real enemy to

defeat because the war on drugs is a war on our own people. The only

real criminals are created by the drug war itself.

* EDUCATION:

Our children’s education is the only necessity where we have

virtually no choice as consumers. We are forced through taxation to

pay for government-run schools.

* WAR ON IRAQ:

I don’t think [President Bush] has made the case yet. I’d like to

see the evidence. I know if we go in there, we’re going to lose a lot

of people.

* LEGALIZING DRUGS:

If drugs are legalized, they need to be regulated. Live and let

live.

* GUN POSSESSION:

You ought to be able to carry a firearm to protect yourself. The

bad guys have them anyway.

* ENDING WELFARE:

You punish initiative, hard work and all that’s good. We reward

the parasites in our society.

* FEDERAL REGULATIONS ON MEDICINES:

It takes too long [to get a new drug through the pipeline]. That

is broken. The customers should have more choice.