The MRP Platform

Security

Freedom is not America’s gift to the world; freedom is God’s gift to each individual. America has a solemn duty to stand for freedom, at home and abroad, and a special responsibility to help make the world a more peaceful place. Fighting for freedom in foreign lands helps prevent the necessity of fighting the enemies of freedom in our homeland.

Homeland Security

America needs to continue making progress to protect and defend our homeland. We must improve the government’s ability to protect our infrastructure, guard our borders, and patrol our skies.

Therefore, the Missouri Republican Party SUPPORTS:

• Combating global terrorism by taking the fight directly to the enemies of freedom.
• Congressional oversight and approval of all refugee entry programs to ensure proper background vetting for those entering our Country, which will allow the free exercise of States Rights and the ability of individual states to either participate or not participate in such programs at their own discretion.
• Requiring all refugees introduced into the state of Missouri to register with the state of Missouri.
• The continued work of the federal and state Departments of Homeland Security and the increased coordination in the gathering and use of intelligence.
• The fair application of the Patriot Act as a means to provide law enforcement authorities with the tools necessary to prevent terrorist attacks while protecting our individual liberties.
• Increased efforts to combat the emerging threat of cyber-terrorism.
• Revamping the system of monitoring the status of all visas, including student and work visas, and mandating better background checks on all aliens applying for visas.
• All efforts to root out the agents of terror and protect Americans from the evils of terrorism.

Strong National Defense

Defending the nation against its enemies is the first and fundamental commitment of the federal government. America must use its position of unparalleled strength and influence to create a balance of power in the world favoring freedom.

Therefore, the Missouri Republican Party SUPPORTS:

• Protecting the size and strength of our armed forces.
• A strong national defense protecting our strategic interests and those of our allies.
• Extending the peace by seeking to spread the benefits of freedom and prosperity across the globe and fostering an era of good relations among the world’s great powers.
• Committing the resources necessary to defeat global terrorism, including ongoing military and civilian operations around the world.
• Defending the peace by opposing and preventing violence by terrorists and outlaw regimes both at home and abroad.
• All efforts to ensure Iran cannot build or obtain nuclear weapons.
• The expansion of all technologies, including the national missile defense system, which will allow the United States to intercept any nuclear attack before it reaches our borders.
• Expanding access to care and treatment options for all returning troops, active duty, Guard, and Reserve, during and after military service including improved oversight of the Veterans Administration Services.
• Improving the compensation provided to military personnel and providing better benefits to their spouses and families.
• Honoring our commitment to all military personnel, veterans, and their families.
• Maintaining and expanding each of our excellent military facilities in Missouri.
• A strong Missouri National Guard and Reserve as an element of the national military structure and support to civil authority in times of emergency or disaster.
• All troops of the United States government at home and abroad.
• The integrity and independence of our U.S. troops under U.S. command.
• The military’s courageous efforts to protect us from the threat of global terrorism.
• The special relationship between our state and nation and our strong ally Israel.
• The integrity of all military chaplains and their historic unfettered ministries, including the use of insignia and unregulated religious performance liberties.
• The Missouri National Guard’s ‘Partner in Care’ program, linking local churches as a support network for chaplains’ and ministry needs of our service men and women.

Protecting our Borders

America’s immigrants helped forge a nation built on a foundation of laws. We welcome those who continue to look to America to pursue life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness legally—and we owe it to the legal immigrants who respected our nation’s laws to prevent those who break our rules from entering the country illegally. Securing our borders against illegal immigration must be a priority in the ongoing battle against international terrorism and in our efforts to ensure that only law-abiding citizens receive the benefits to which they are entitled.

Therefore, the Missouri Republican Party SUPPORTS:

• An immigration policy that does not include amnesty for illegal immigrants.
• Preventing illegal immigrants from receiving taxpayer benefits.
• Securing the border to prevent illegal immigrants or terrorists from entering the country.
• Fair and effective efforts to assure that people who register to vote in our elections are indeed citizens of the United States lawfully entitled to cast a ballot.
• Empowering state and local law enforcement agencies with the authority, responsibility, and resources needed to detain illegal immigrants within the course of their regular duties.
• Punishing employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
• Prohibiting federal funding for so-called sanctuary cities.
• Interpreting the US Constitution in a way that does not automatically allow children of illegal immigrants in the U.S. to become American citizens.
• Mandatory use of E-Verify or a similar system to ensure that illegal immigrants are not illegally employed.

Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice

The Missouri Republican Party is committed to supporting our brave law enforcement personnel and a fair and swift judicial system that protects us from those who would hurt our families or threaten our communities. Missourians deserve protection from crime and drugs. Our law enforcement officers are putting their lives on the line every day to protect us. They need and deserve our help.

Therefore, the Missouri Republican Party SUPPORTS:

• The men and women who serve in law enforcement.
• Protection of individual liberties guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution and the Missouri Constitution.
• Appointment of federal and state judges who believe in the rule of law, uphold the Constitution, and understand that the role of a judge is to interpret our laws, not make them.
• Preventing activist judges from violating the U.S. Constitution by legislating from the bench or through excessive administrative rules.
• Opening to the public a selection process for Missouri State Judges in accordance with the Sunshine Law.
• Efforts by the Missouri General Assembly to improve the selection of Missouri judges and reduce the influence of special interests in the selection process.
• Expansion of state laws protecting our children against sexual predators.
• Aggressive enforcement of existing laws related to child pornography and adult-oriented industries that target Missouri families and children, and further development of law enforcement tools to protect Missourians from such exploitation.
• Aggressive prosecution of those who deprive individuals of their God-given right to liberty by engaging in human trafficking.
• Continued efforts to address the special concerns of spouses, children, older people, and others who become victims of abuse.
• Strong oversight of the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service to ensure federal laws are fairly enforced and applied.
• An act of Congress mandating the supremacy and controlling authority of the U.S. Constitution and federal law and the constitutions and laws of the several states and prohibiting federal courts from according any United Nations or foreign court declaration, law or precedent any weight or authority greater than such federal and state constitutional and statutory authority.
• Prohibiting the transfer of power and sovereignty from our United States government to foreign powers and international organizations.
• Prohibiting the further expansion of gambling within Missouri beyond that already authorized.
• An amendment to the U.S. Constitution to prohibit the desecration of the American flag.
• Strict enforcement and prosecution of current laws on gambling.
• Strict enforcement and prosecution of laws on illegal drugs.
• Efforts by the Federal Communications Commission to enhance the enforcement of obscenity and decency standards on television and radio and to increase the punishments for violators.
• Swift judgment and sure and appropriate punishment of those who are guilty, with limits on the number of appeals.
• Capital punishment, where called for and administered in a fair and constitutional manner, with all protection afforded by judicial review but without protracted and frivolous appeals.
• Greater latitude for law enforcement officials to use incriminating evidence in the courts.
• Continued efforts to reform Missouri’s municipal court system by ending “taxation by citation.”
• Creating a consistent standard for trying violent juvenile offenders as adults.
• Making records of violent juvenile offenders available to school and local authorities.
• Requiring drug testing for welfare recipients when there is reasonable suspicion that the individual is using illicit substances.

2^nd Amendment

The Founding Fathers enshrined the Second Amendment as a way to secure all of our other rights. The right to bear arms is as important now as it was centuries ago, and we believe every law-abiding citizen has the right and responsibility to defend themselves, their families, and their property.

Therefore, the Missouri Republican Party SUPPORTS:

• Preserving and interpreting the Bill of Rights, including the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, in the manner intended by the founding fathers.
• State law allowing law-abiding Missourians to carry concealed firearms and other Second Amendment protections such as the Castle Doctrine and the protection of those rights during emergencies.
• The strict enforcement of existing gun laws but not the creation of new and unnecessary gun control laws.
• Limiting frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers.
• Limiting government’s ability to over-regulate or reduce the manufacturing, sales, or ownership .