Domestic Issues
Domestic Issue #1: iPhone Privacy
Apple recently challenged a court order which would force it to cooperate with the FBI and unlock an iPhone used by one of the two attackers who killed 14 people in San Bernardino, CA in December 2015. The Judge in the case ordered Apple to build a software key which would unlock the phone. The FBI claimed its agents had been unable to access information in the phone without the key. Opponents argue that technology companies should protect the privacy of their customers and creating a special key for law enforcement will open the door to hackers. Proponents argue that law enforcement authorities should have the ability to break encryption technologies in order to prevent and solve crimes. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #2: Gun Control
The 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings caused several states and cities to pass strict gun control measures. In response, state lawmakers in gun friendly states in the South and West passed bills that would strengthen Stand Your Ground laws and allow weapons in most public places. In 2014, 21 states passed laws that expanded the rights of gun owners allowing them to possess firearms in churches, bars, schools and college campuses. The federal government has not passed any gun control measures since the 1994 Brady Bill and 42 states now allow the possession of assault rifles. In the U.S., two-thirds of all gun deaths are suicides, and in 2010 there were 19,000 firearm suicides and 11,000 firearm homicides. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #3: Guns & Background Checks
Universal background checks require individuals to pass a criminal and public safety background check before purchasing a firearm. The background check consists of the firearm retailer calling a toll-free number or website (National Instant Criminal Background Check System or NICS) to check the eligibility of the buyer. The NICS system is a composite of several FBI databases, such as the National Crime Information Center, and runs the buyer's name through federal and state criminal records. Individuals can also be added to the NICS system on the recommendation of psychiatrists, mental health institutions and family members. Under the current NICS system, buyers may be denied the purchase of a firearm for reasons such as being indicted or convicted of a felony, admitting to being addicted to a controlled substance, having been dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces, being subject to a restraining order, as well as other regulations. Currently, around 2% of gun background checks are denied. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #4: Guns & "No-Fly" Lists
After the December 2015 shooting in San Bernardino, CA, President Obama stated in his weekly radio address that it was “insane” to allow suspected terrorists on the country’s no-fly list to purchase guns. Shortly after, Senate Democrats introduced a measure that would have restricted anyone on the federal terrorism watch list, also known as the no-fly list, from being able to purchase firearms in the U.S. The measure did not pass after Senate Republicans voted down the measure. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #5: Guns & Lawsuits
In 2005, Congress passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). The law protects gun manufacturers and dealers from being held liable when crimes have been committed with their products. The law was passed in response to a series of lawsuits filed against the gun industry in the late 1990s which claimed gun-makers and sellers were not doing enough to prevent crimes committed with their products. Proponents of the law argue that lawsuits will discourage gun manufacturers from supplying stores who sell guns that end up being used in violent crimes. Opponents argue that gun manufacturers are not responsible for random acts of violence committed with their products. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #6: Decriminalizing Drugs
In 1970, Congress passed the Controlled Substances Act which banned the manufacture, importation, possession, use and distribution of certain drugs. The act ranked drugs by their potential for abuse and placed them into five categories. Two of the most widely used drugs in the U.S., wine and alcohol, are exempt from the classifications. Ballot measures in several states including Colorado, Washington and Oregon have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. These laws apply only within the respective states and have no effect on Federal law. One solution to reducing the number of people swept into the criminal justice system for drug law violations is to enact various forms of decriminalization of drug use and possession. Decriminalization is the removal of criminal penalties for drug law violations (usually possession for personal use). Roughly two dozen countries, and dozens of U.S. cities and states, have taken steps toward decriminalization. The thought is that in decriminalizing possession and investing in treatment and harm reduction services, the country can reduce the harms of drug misuse while improving public safety and health. Although the "War on Drugs" has had mixed success, many Americans believe that the legalization of drugs would have catastrophic effects on the nation. This side of the debate believes that it would increase drug use, lead to more experimentation by youth, and exacerbate the existing deleterious effects that drugs have on society. They are of the opinion that government subsidization of addicts would have crippling effects on the economy. They also feel that legalization would help to create a large black market for drugs. Anti-legalization proponents also point out that drug dealers and hardcore addicts would not suddenly become productive, law-abiding members of society. The anti-legalization point of view is that dealers will still be involved in crime and violence and that users will still need to support themselves by engaging in criminal activity. Opponents of legalization often cite statistics that show that drug prevention initiatives, drug awareness curricula in schools, and drug treatment programs are working. They point to the fact that there are fewer addicts today than there were 20 years ago. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #7: NSA Data Collection
Under a provision of the Patriot Act, the National Security Agency (NSA) is allowed to collect phone metadata — the numbers, time stamps, and duration of a call, but not its actual content. Opponents include civil liberties advocates and Senator Rand Paul who argue that the collection is unconstitutional since it is done without a warrant. Supporters of the collection argue that the collection is necessary to track suspected terrorists. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #8: The Patriot Act
In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Patriot Act expanded intelligence gathering capabilities including: monitoring of foreign financial transactions, detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of terrorism, wiretaps, business record searches, and surveillance of individuals suspected of terrorist activities. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #9: Internet Service Providers
Net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers should treat all data on the Internet equally. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #10: Affirmative Action
Affirmative Action is a policy that encourages the increased representation of members of a minority group. In the U.S., these policies are often enacted by employers and educational institutions in education or employment. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #11: Social Security
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush told CBS News that the current basic retirement age of 65 needs to go to 68 or 70 as a way to sustain Social Security for those now under 40. The Social Security retirement age is based on a sliding scale which takes into account when the recipient was born and whether they want to retire early in return for a reduction in monthly benefits. The current age to begin receiving benefits is set at 65 for those born prior to 1938. Under current law, it rises gradually to age 67 for those born in 1960 or later. Proponents argue that Americans are living longer and healthier lives than they did when Social Security was founded and the program will run $7.7 trillion in the red during the next 75 years. Opponents argue that Social Security provides at least half of total retirement income for more than two-thirds of all retirees and raising the age will rob lower income seniors of necessary benefits. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #12: Gerrymandering
Currently, the redistricting of congressional boundaries is controlled by state legislature every ten years. Gerrymandering is the redrawing of districts with the intent of benefiting a political party. It is most often implemented by state political parties with the intent of marginalizing districts of voters who represent the minority party. To gain extra seats, the incumbent party will redraw voting districts so that voters of the minority party will be grouped into smaller districts with less seats. Critics of gerrymandering say these practices allow incumbent representatives to choose their voters instead of voters choosing them. Proponents say that drawing districts is a privilege of the ruling party and have little effect on the popularity of their policies or candidates. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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Domestic Issue #13: Eminent Domain
Eminent domain is the power of a state or a national government to take private property for public use. However, it can be legislatively delegated by the state to municipalities, government subdivisions, or even to private persons or corporations, when they are authorized to exercise the functions of public character. Opponents, including Conservatives and Libertarians in New Hampshire, oppose giving the government the power to seize property for private projects, like casinos, that was made possible to a 2005 Supreme Court decision, Kelo v. New London. Proponents, including advocates of oil pipelines and national parks, argue that the construction of roads and schools would not be possible if the government could not seize land under eminent domain. (Info and poll from www.isidewith.com.)
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