GOP 8th District candidates voice support for right to bear arms, border security

The three Republican challengers to Missouri 8th District U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, voiced support for the right to bear arms and securing the nation’s borders during a candidates’ forum Tuesday at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

The congressman was unable to attend the forum, sponsored by the Cape County Tea Party, because he was attending the Republican National Convention in Cleveland as a Missouri delegate.

But his Aug. 2 primary opponents — Phillip Smith of Gatewood, Todd Mahn of De Soto and Hal Brown of Cape Girardeau — answered questions on a variety of issues ranging from the economy to U.S. funding for the United Nations. About 30 people attended the forum.

All three candidates called for stronger measures to control the nation’s borders.

Smith said he favors deporting all illegal immigrants. He said that would open up jobs for American citizens and legal immigrants.

Mahn said, “I do believe we have to secure our borders better.”

He said the United States needs to build “a wall of some sort on the Mexican border.”

Mahn said the U.S. also needs to deport people who enter our country illegally.

Brown told the audience, “We have to build a wall.” He said he agrees with GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump the nation needs improved background checks on prospective immigrants.

On the economy, Mahn said he would work to grow jobs in the 8th District. Mahn said the sprawling district is the poorest in Missouri and the 16th-poorest district in the nation.

Mahn called for lowering the corporate income tax.

“We have the highest corporate income tax in the world,” he said.

Mahn said, if elected, he would establish an advisory committee of business representatives in the district to help attract new employers and expand existing businesses.

Brown and Smith want to implement a fair tax.

“It is a consumption tax,” said Brown, who favors eliminating all income and payroll taxes. He also would eliminate the corporate tax.

“It is going to make our economy take off,” said Brown, adding it would encourage savings and investment.

While favoring the fair tax, Smith called for tax breaks for small businesses. He said small businesses are the “backbone of the economy.”

All three candidates said they opposed U.S. funding for the United Nations. Brown said, “We should withhold payments to the U.N. like (then-President Ronald) Reagan did.”

Smith said the U.S. should “defund the U.N.” and send the delegates back to their home countries.

Mahn said he would send U.N. delegates packing.

“Why squander our money? I would throw them out,” he said.

All three candidates said Americans have an absolute, constitutional right to bear arms.

“The first 10 amendments to the Constitution are not suggestions,” Brown told the audience.

Smith said, “I would like to repeal all federal gun laws.”

He added, “There is no such thing as a common-sense gun law. Every gun law has been an infringement upon our rights.”

Smith, Mahn and Brown criticized the federal bureaucracy.

Smith said he favors defunding all federal agencies. Mahn said all federal agencies need to be reviewed.

“Almost all federal regulations need to go back to the states,” Mahn said.

Brown favors eliminating the Internal Revenue Service, the departments of education and energy, Environmental Protection Agency and the Small Business Administration.

As for protecting the environment, Brown said, “States can take care of this just fine.”

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