Richard J. Byrne
Libertarian | New Jersey
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Richard J. Byrne
Party
Libertarian
Election Year
2023
Election
General
Race
State Senate Dist. 16
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa., BSEE, 1973
Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, N.Y, MSEE, 1981
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Army, SP5, 10 May 68 - 17 Nov 70
AFFILIATIONS
American Corporate Partners acp-usa.orh, Volunteer Advisor, Hillsborough Rescue Squad
Volunteer Emergency Medical Technician, Crew Chief, Trustee, Life member and Rescue Technician ., Boy Scouts of America, Cub Scout Pack 289 Den Leader
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8371, Life member, Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 452
Life member, IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ieee.org, Senior Life member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Libertarian Party njlp.org
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
The meek shall inherit the Earth, the wicked shall perish. There should be no laws regarding abortion. It is not New Jersey's job to determine if someone had a miscarriage (spontaneous abortion), stillborn or if they are wicked. Humans have a right to refuse, copulation incurs responsibilities of a family nature. Judge not lest YOU be judged. The penalty has been clearly stated, Corrective Darwinian selection and a life of regret.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Neutral
Suicide should be legal. I don't recommend it. There should be no laws against it. Dealt with suicide attempts as a volunteer EMT. Keep the Government out of the patient Doctor interface.
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Everyone should pay the same tax rates.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
For New Jersey, there seems to be not enough revenue to fund many worthwhile needs. A difficult chore.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
My father died when I was 12 and left my mother with five children, one an infant and another with Down's Syndrome. We all had to work, scrimp & save. I worked full time after graduating High School at 17 & attended college at night. Got drafted, then continued after my ETS. In some cases my employers helped to fund my education.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Some Religious people think that would be a fate worse than death.
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
If they are on fire or the buildings are dangerous.
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.
C
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
When it is deemed necessary, practical and to protect others. They gave them to me when I was inducted into the Military, and probably more before I was sent to Vietnam. We had to take weekly anti Malaria pills.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Don't interfere in countries where there is no national interest.
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.
Neutral
My country is the US. Americans rely on DNA tests to reveal their ethnicities. It is difficult for the people in the New Worlds who are ethnically diverse to comprehend the complex social and racial customs of the old worlds.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Neutral
It is better to have people wanting to come in than to leave. Or wanting to leave but not being able to. People who are here and want to become US citizens should be given the chance. They should be allowed to work or join Military. Only expel outlaws.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
This is a question of supply & demand. All countries should proportionately accept refugees. If too many people from a country want to come to the US, maybe that country should become a US territory or be annexed. In other words, move the border. It would be good if everyone wanted to be US.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Neutral
There are a lot of online learning resources. I recommend using public schools augmented by supplemental learning. Children should be able to read at 3 years of age. The ability to learn the rules of language decreases rapidly during early childhood.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Neutral
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Neutral
You go do your thing, I'll do mine. Too much information.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Neutral
Maybe fruitful copulation could be defined as a legal marriage ceremony. Then there would be no out of wedlock births. New Jersey could be the marriage capital of he world! Polygamy should be legal. Cloning should not be illegal. Good luck getting it passed.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Neutral
Parents need to be involved in and supplement their children's education. Parents should be able to influence curriculum choices.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
We continually update mental models of what is real and of other people, animals, machines through our senses & memories. In humans this is dispersed and held in numerous synapses. But we never can know what is truly real, nor what others think.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Neutral
I've voted in various places. There often seems to be some bending or violation of the rules. Maybe computerized voting would be best, but not everybody is computer literate. Photo Id's can be forged A challenge to democracy.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Seems like finger print IDs would work, even for twins & clones. Maybe retinal ID scans? Not sure technology is there yet. Changes should be gradual as there are often unforeseen implementation or execution challenges. What we have now is hopefully acceptable. People always seem to find a way to cheat.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
You can be Free or you can be Safe. When everything is quiet, that's when things happen. Life is short. Nobody gets out of here alive. Be aware of your surroundings. Try to be kind and just.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
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.
Both could be true depending on particulars.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
Clean Water is a critical resource.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To preserve the peace. To accomplish what can't be done by individuals or other organizations.
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?
Moderate
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
From Honors & awards of LinkedIn profile: Bell Laboratories President's Gold Award Winner 1998, Hillsborough Rescue Squad Chief's Award 1996, Den Leader Award 1995, Hillsborough Rescue Squad Service Excellence Award, US Army Honorable Discharge, National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM), Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) Inventor listed on 16 issued US patents BSEE, MSEE
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?
Byrne’s experience as a Veteran, volunteer Emergency responder, Engineer & Inventor will bring useful talents & possibly novel solutions to the NJ Senate. When elected, Byrne will represent the residents of N.J. Legislative District 16, negotiating with other Senators to ensure support for our district's needs. As a member of the Libertarian Party, Byrne embraces Liberty & Prosperity for all, Constitutional rights and prefers that New Jersey mind it's own business.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Neutral
The police I've worked with while on the Rescue Squad in Hillsborough, NJ were all great. People are human.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Neutral
Should be left up to the community.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The right to bear arms shall not be infringed.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Neutral
Everybody can sue anybody for anything.
