Former Senator John Ashcroft says he lost some sleep while debating in his own mind the idea that a balance needs to be struck between liberty and security. Then he decided when he was United States Attorney General that a balance does NOT need to be achieved.
Ashcroft tells the National Rifle Association convention in Washington that the most important thing about this country is Liberty, and the nation must act to secure an environment of freedom.
He says it is not the duty of the culture to balance security and liberty. Instead, he says, the duty of the American culture is to enhance and enrich freedom by having a security system that gives people an opportunity to reach their God-given potential.