Charles A. Owen
Republican | Louisiana
Candidate Profile
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Charles A. Owen
Party
Republican
Election Year
2023
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist 30
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, Ph.D., 2011
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, MS, 2009
Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, MBA, 1986
Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, BS, 1984
WORK & MILITARY
US Air Force, Lieutenant Colonel, 1986-2006
AFFILIATIONS
Leesville Lions Club, One Year Director, Lion Tamer, Vernon Chamber of Commerce
Legislative Committee DIrector, Leesville High School Alumni Assn, Vice-President, Parade Chaiman
Northpoint Community Church, Prayer Leader (2010-2014), Republican State Central Committee
District Representative, Christian Living Fellowship, Member (2017-present)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
House of Representative District 30, 3.75
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2023
100%
2022
100%, 100% (cum.)†
2020-2021
100%
2022
84%, 86% (cum.)†
2023
|100%
2022
|100%, 100% (cum.)†
2020-2021
|100%
2022
|84%, 86% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (5)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Louisiana Committee for a Conservative Majority
John Kennedy
Mike Johnson
Louisiana Freedom Caucus PAC
OTHER (1)
Louisiana Motor Transport Association
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Senator John Kennedy; Congressman Mike Johnson; Louisiana Committee for a Conservative Majority; Louisiana Association of Business and Industry; Louisiana Motor Transport Association; Health Freedom Louisiana; Louisiana Citizens Advocacy Group
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
John Neely Kennedy (2022)
State Republican Party Organizations (2021)
Stephen Dwight (2020)
Julie Cathryn Emerson (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (6)
LA Committee for a Conservative Majority PAC (2022)
Mike Francis (2022)
Garret Graves (2019)
Jack PAC (NY) (2019)
Julie Cathryn Emerson (2019)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
National Education Association (national, state & local affiliates) (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
Citizens for a New Louisiana scorecard for Representative Chuck Owen
One of 69 Republicans who voted to override Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards’s veto and reinstate House Bill 648 called the “Stop Harming Our Kids Act,” which shields children from life-altering sex-change procedures. Source: HB648 (la.gov)
Recognized by Louisiana Health Freedom as a
legislator they consider to be a Champion of Health Freedom
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
ONLY to save the life of the mother.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
The Louisiana tax code needs to be restructured to create a more business-friendly environment.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Money allocated to Non-Government Organizations must be CAREFULLY scrutinized in the future. Government "spending" means many things, and, by and large, Louisiana's budget is problematic because of the Constitution. For the immediate future, we need to prioritize infrastructure spending ahead of anything going to any NGO.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
NEVER is the answer I prefer. However, Louisiana's Governor and others HAVE done it, which means it CAN be done. However, I am absolutely opposed to any infringement on the rights of citizens of assemble and worship.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
I do NOT think healthcare is in the purview of the government's responsibility. Government has seized it as a responsibility, but I think this has been done errantly. I believe government should provide safety nets for those who cannot help themselves, but, as a rule of thumb, I think health care if the responsibility fo the individual.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None. Especially after the tyrannical performance of state and federal officials in the COVID pandemic
NATIONAL SECURITY
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
Palestinians should be treated with respect and the governments in places where they live should do what is right by them. Palestinians are people and deserve dignity and respect. But, Israel is a sovereign nation and it is none of MY business to interfere in their affairs.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The citizens of the United States, via elected representatives and the signature of the Chief Executive are the ones who make this decision. We should as a nation be able to decide who is allowed entry or immigration to our republic. No one has the right to come here illegally. This is our country and we get to make those rules---through our elected representatives.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
CRT is a subcomponent of a very dangerous school of thought---Critical Theory. Critical Theory is focused on disrupting and changing for the worse the United States of America. It needs to be confronted and opposed peacefully and intellectually at every turn.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a born-again, water-baptized, Spirit-filled Christian. I accepted Christ at the age of 9 in a church in my hometown of Leesville. I was water baptized at the age of 30. I believe in a virgin birth, a sinless life, a death on the cross, a resurrection, and ascension into Heaven by the one who redeems my soul; I am an unashamed follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe He is the only son of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
We need to make sure our voter rolls are accurate and well-maintained. We must make a stronger effort to remove deceased voters and to remove people who are no longer eligible to vote. We must keep our photo-ID requirement in place for voting. We must work hard on and carefully scrutinize the next generation of voting systems in Louisiana; the public has to be aware of what the State is doing in this context.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
It is, because racism, both real and contrived, creates division. I believe foreign bad actors stoke racism as an issue in an effort to divide our country. We must confront our whole history in this country, and acknowledge both failures and successes in this realm. The United States was formed on noble purposes, but we were not perfect. We have course-corrected many times in this country. Events like the Civil War, the post war Amendments, reconstruction and the civil rights movement are all salient things for us to consider and to better understand as citizens. We are a great people, but I believe there ARE people who want to divide us. We must become united under the banner of equal treatment under the law for all.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A is my choice. I believe we must try to protect our environment, but I am concerned that activists who wish to do the US harm are behind the focus on "green energy." We must protect our country, but we cannot sacrifice our liberties in the process. A balanced approach is critical.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To provide a framework for free people to live and function. Government's biggest job is to ensure the liberties of its citizens and the security of its borders. The US government was created by the States; the States were created by the citizens living in proximity to one another who chose to associate. Government is ALWAYS subservient to the people.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://rumble.com/v30wwmc-owen-comments-on-veto-override-protecting-louisiana-from-foreign-adversarie.html; https://rumble.com/v2rsh4a-urging-governor-edwards-to-send-the-louisiana-national-guard-to-help-secure.html; https://rumble.com/v16g1sa-house-concurrent-resolution-12.html;https://rumble.com/v16g1ks-vaccine-discrimination-emergency-use-authorization.html
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I hope the citizens will know that I have worked hard for them for four years. I will continue to do so if elected. I have made myself available and have been transparent in all my actions. I am a Christian, conservative and Republican---in that order. I hope the good people of Vernon and Beauregard will give me ther stongest consideration on October 14. God bless our great country.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
To the greatest extent possible our peace officers must be protected. On occasion, criminal behavior is noted by law enforcement and I believe our laws in place provide for such moments. We need to respect and defend our police forces---especially at the local and state level
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Neutral
I would need to see empirical data for any area where this took place. There may be some that are merited, but America and Louisiana are not one-size-fits-all places. Would need to be location specific.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I fully support the 2nd Amendment. Free people should not have to ask permission to defend themselves. We need to enforce our existing gun laws and ensure the rights of law-abiding citizens are NOT infringed.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Gambling should be limited to existing forms and should not be de-regulated or expanded.
Agree
Children should be protected from sexualization on the internet, in public schools, and in the public libraries
Strongly Agree
