Jake A. Merrick

Abortion - the intentional termination of life in the womb - should never be allowed. Human life is created in the image of God and is, therefore, sacred. It must be protected from fertilization until natural death. While rape and incest are tremendously wicked offenses, these do not justify taking the life of the innocent. If the life of the mother is at risk, reasonable measures should be taken to protect and preserve both lives. If it is determined that the mother's life is in danger, a doctor needs to be free to make the medically necessary decision to save her life even if it means the life in the womb cannot be saved. This is very different from intentionally ending the life in the womb.

Strongly Agree

Abortion providers should not only be defunded, the facilities should be closed and those who provide abortion services should be in jail.

Strongly Disagree

Life is sacred and must be protected and preserved from fertilization until natural death.

I'm in favor of ending the IRS and moving to the Fair Tax model. A great explanation for the fair tax can be found here: https://fairtax.org Also, I would like to see a tax credit applied to those parents who are not using public education.

Thankfully, Oklahoma has a balanced budget with a surplus. While I agree with the concept of maintain a surplus in case of emergency (especially in light of the instability of our current federal government), I would like to see more of this surplus appropriated to building better roads in Oklahoma.

Strongly Disagree

Oklahoma's compulsory education laws require students 5-18 to attend some type of school to achieve a basic education. It is not the state's responsibility to provide education to adults 18 years and older.

Strongly Disagree

The right to live by your individual religious beliefs is a fundamental right protected by the 1st amendment. To be forced to violate your own more/religious belief would be unconstitutional.

Under no circumstances can the government forbid peaceful assembly.

D.) The government needs to get out of healthcare. This should be an entirely privately entity subject to and regulated by the free market demands. While the poor and elderly need to be cared for, this is not the government's job.

Under no circumstances should a vaccination be required without considering an individual's personal moral and/or medical objections. Those who object should be given the right to object. If an employer wants to require all employees to be vaccinated, this must be agreed upon during the hiring process and it should be clear that these are the terms of employment. Then, the individual can decide if he/she would take the vaccine in order to get the job. However, if hired without a vaccination being a condition of employment, the employer should not be allowed to then make it a requirement with repercussions for refusal. Under no circumstances can a government or government school require a vaccination that would violate an individual's personal moral or medical convictions.

Sanction those countries who promote terrorism. Increase border security to thoroughly vet all who cross the border.

Strongly Disagree

I am opposed to the BDS movement that would pressure Israel to open its borders up to the Palestinians who have expressly stated that they intend to destroy Israel. I fully support Israel and its occupation of the nation of Israel. They have a right to defend their own country and to expel all who are opposed to their existence.

Strongly Agree

Failure to secure our own borders is equivalent to national suicide. To protect citizens of our country and to uphold our own laws that we have agreed to as a people, it is absolutely essential that all coming into this country have been vetted and required to adhere to the laws of the land.

All should be free to come as long as they are not on a terror watch list or connected to criminal behavior. Those who come, must come legally and honor the laws of the land.

Strongly Agree

School choice is critical to ensure absolute freedom. Many are opposed to the direction public school is going, and many believe public schools cannot provide the education and environment that their kids need. For this reason, parents need to always have the freedom to place their kids in the learning environment that best meets their kids needs.

Strongly Agree

John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Morality is not relative, but objective. The God of the Bible is our Creator and all rights come from Him. When one knows that he will be accountable to God, they are more careful how they live. Limited government works when there is self-regulation among the people.

Strongly Disagree

There are two genders. While there are natural abnormalities, these must be addressed on a case by case basis. Law, however, must be applied to the common condition supported by biology. Gender/Sex is not fluid and one cannot pick and chose which gender they want to identify with.

Strongly Agree

Strongly Disagree

I am a born again Christian who believes the Bible is the word of God given to direct men to God himself. The Bible teaches man is made in the image of God, but man was corrupted through disobedience and separated from intimacy with God. God sent Jesus as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of humanity, and those who believe and accept this are forgiven, restored and re-united in fellowship with God. Believers are also filled with God's Spirit who instructs and empowers us to live the full life we were always intended to live. So, my Biblical worldview understands human life is sacred and must be honored. When a person fears God and honors man (Love God and love your neighbor as yourself), he will live an "upright" and righteous life. Laws should reflect the nature and righteousness of God while ensuring individuals have the freedom to make their own decisions because they are ultimately accountable to God.

Strongly Disagree

A photo ID should be required of ever legal citizen before they vote.

I would like all precincts to receive paper ballots and move away from all electronic counting machines. Every electronic machine can be hacked, so to eliminate this risk entirely would be wise.

No. Racism is an evil in the heart that cannot be corrected with laws, but only by the love of God. The current laws protect all men and women, no matter their color. The only threat seems to be from those who want to make race the primary issue in our culture and attack those they assume are racist. It is the governments job to protect those people and businesses who are being attacked because they are assumed to be racist.

Strongly Disagree

Every individual born today is born free with the same opportunities afforded to all. This is all that is owed to any man.

We must protect our environment while also protecting the free market and equal opportunity for all energy sources to be considered.

Did not answer

This is not a matter of what one thinks, but a matter of what our founding documents say. Our Declaration of Independence says, "That to secure these rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness) governments re instituted among men..." The role of government is to protect the rights that come from God.

Very Conservative

Did not answer

Never

Did not answer

Agree

Strongly Disagree

I believe there should be no restrictions gun ownership. This is a fundamental right. The effort to protect citizen from bad actors (those who would abuse their freedom to own guns) and prosecute criminals is an eternal effort. We do not use this as an excuse to limit the freedom of others.

Strongly Disagree

The dealers and manufacturers are not responsible for how their product is used in the same way a sports car maker is not responsible if the driver choses to speed or recklessly endanger the public.