Rand Paul: “the CIA has a budget of over $30 billion. The FBI has a budget of over $3 billion. In addition, $10 to $12 billion are…”

“the CIA has a budget of over $30 billion. The FBI has a budget of over $3 billion. In addition, $10 to $12 billion are specifically designated to fighting terrorism. Yet, with all this money and power, we were not warned of the events that befell us on September 11. Since the tragic attacks, our officials have located and arrested hundreds of suspects, frozen millions of dollars of assets and gotten authority to launch a military attack against the ring leaders in Afghanistan. It seems the war against terrorists or guerillas, if one really believes we are in an actual war, has so far been carried out satisfactorily and under current law. But the question is do we really need a war against the civil liberties of the American people? We should never casually sacrifice any of our freedoms for the sake of a perceived security. Most security, especially in a free society, is best carried out by individuals protecting their own property and their own lives. The founders certainly understood this and is the main reason we have the second amendment. We cannot have a policeman stationed in each of our homes to prevent burglaries, but owners with property with possession of a gun can easily do it. A new giant agency for homeland security cannot provide security, but it can severely undermine our liberties. This approach may well, in the long run, make many Americans feel less secure.”