My good friends at the National Center for Public Policy Research put out a press release today about the state of Illinois’ seeming hypocrisy and double standards when applying law mandating the use and/or need of producing government identification.

As a whole, I support the policies and efforts of the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) but today I have to take issue with some of the argument used by the Center’s Project 21 representative, Stacey Swimp.

At issue is the fact that the state of Illinois now requires government endorsed identification when purchasing certain products, among them drain cleaner. Swimp’s beef comes from the fact that Illinois has rejected previous bills attempting to require some kind of photo identification in order to vote.

“If people must provide a government-issued ID to unclog their drains, they certainly should do the same for the very important task of selecting their elected leaders.”

The point is well taken and I might have left it at that and made some small remark wondering why it is even necessary to require anybody to produce a government-approved ID card to buy Drano?

To bolster the argument, Swimp later says the following:

“Having been certified as a pesticide applicator in the past and knowing the harm they can inflict if used maliciously, I understand why some might want to have a means of identifying who obtains them and for what reasons. The same would apply to guns, fertilizers, over-the-counter medications that can make illicit drugs and — in this case — acids and other dangerous chemicals. So it’s only logical that people who have these concerns would also want similar identification rules to prevent vote fraud.”

I might understand that “some” people might want to regulate breathing of humans but that is not a valid reason to require them to obtain a government permit to do so. It’s easy to spout off about those “reasonable” regulations because we “understand why some”, but how is any of this constitutional and what kind of trouble has this country gotten itself into because we cede away our rights in the name of public safety because “some people might want”?

I’m not suggesting that I think Swimp is advocating for tougher regulations on buying Drano, guns, fertilizers, etc. I have no idea of his position on these issues. It’s simply the fact that he is using defective logic to make a point.

Isn’t it about time that people in this country begin demanding back their rights? Please show me in the constitution where it is “reasonable” that I cede rights. And while your there show me where it is required that I obtain a government approved ID card to buy and sell.

What’s next? The mark of the beast in order that anyone can buy or sell? You keep giving away your freedom by swallowing the Kool-Aid about public safety and national security and we won’t even be having this conversation.

Tom Remington