2024 HOD Candidate Questionnaire Response
Name S. Chris Anders
Office Sought House of Delegates
Party Affiliation Republican
District 97
Your Hometown Sharpsburg, MD
Campaign Website www.anders4wv.com
On June 24, 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, effectively overturning Roe v. Wade. As a result, the WV legislature enacted a near total ban on abortion less than three months later. With no access to or Constitutional protections for abortion, what do you think abortion policy should look like in West Virginia?
Absolutely banned. Without life, liberty is not possible
Several West Virginia municipalities have passed ordinances that expand the definition of racial discrimination to include discriminating against traditional or natural hair textures and styles. Would you support expanding this protection statewide? Why or why not?
The individual is the smallest minority. The only purpose of government is to protect individual life, individual liberty and private property. The right to associate also entails the right not to associate. Government interference into private businesses and private lives to decrease discrimination has the opposite effect as it lumps individuals into collective groups based upon physical characteristics rather than seeing them as individuals.
Many states have created laws that seek to limit the teaching of "divisive concepts" or "critical race theory". West Virginia narrowly missed passing a similar law during the 2022 Legislative Session. What is the value or harm in teaching these topics and what role should the legislature play in determining this curriculum?
Instead of fighting over what is taught in government schools, we must pass full and complete school choice, and then parents, not the government, decides what school and curriculum their children attend and what their tax dollars fund.
Currently there is no statewide law protecting people in matters of employment, housing, and public accommodations based on their sexuality or gender identity. Proponents claim these protections are necessary to end the ongoing discrimination against the LGBTQ community. Opponents claim that such protections infringe upon religious beliefs. What do you believe and would you support or oppose a statewide law?
See answer [2]. Government has no moral right to tell any individual or business who they can or cannot hire. Rights are individual and any attempt to pigeon hole people into groups of collectivism and violates that principle.
During the 2024 legislative session, the Senate passed legislation mandating, “In God We Trust” be posted in all West Virginia schools and permitting teachers to discuss ‘creationism’ and ‘intelligent design creationism’ as part of public-school science curricula. What role do you think religion should play in the public school system, and why?
See answer [3].
In 2023, West Virginia lawmakers passed HB2007, severely restricting access to gender affirming healthcare services for West Virginians under the age of 18. Proponents of the legislation claimed it was about keeping kids safe, and opponents argued in favor of parental rights and medical freedom. What role, if any, do you believe government should play regarding medical decisions relating to gender affirming healthcare services, and why?
What was true 100 years ago is true today and will be true 100 years from now. An individuals sex cannot be changed, and reducing sex to clothing and body modifications is an affront to God's most imperfect creations.
Though abolished in 1965, lawmakers have introduced multiple bills designed to reinstate the death penalty. What are your thoughts on capital punishment in general, and would you support or oppose the effort to reinstate the death penalty in West Virginia?
I oppose the death penalty as I do not trust the government, nor wish it to have the power to kill as that is a slippery slope.
There is increasing tension with communities of people who are unhoused or face housing insecurity. Police breakups of encampments are common, and municipalities have shown growing opposition to low-barrier housing and recovery housing. How would you address community concerns while protecting the rights of unhoused people?
Government welfare has created the homeless crisis by driving individuals onto the government dole where they sacrifice liberty for government trinkets. Homelessness is a symptom of the loss of hope due to government's taxation and debt spending. We must restore hope by severely reducing the the size, scope and spending of government.
Police violence has been in the forefront of national headlines for several years. Some propose more civilian oversight of law enforcement through civilian review boards that could review incidents and policies. Others view these boards as "anti-police" and point out that civilians are ill-equipped to understand the nature of police work. Do you support the use of civilian review boards? What other steps, if any, should the state take to provide transparency and accountability for police?
Body cameras, end no knock warrants, end NSA spying without a warrant and address the drug issue as not a crime but rather an illness.
Jails in West Virginia are above capacity and are bankrupting some counties. Prisons are understaffed, making them dangerous for residents and staff alike. What steps, if any, should West Virginia take to address these issues?
The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the state. We need to do real criminal justice reform and stop incarcerating people for victimless crimes.
Currently, people coming out of incarceration on probation, parole, or supervised release for a felony conviction are unable to vote. When, if ever, do you think people should lose their right to vote? When, if ever, should that right be restored?
I believe that there should be a process to reinstate the right to vote, and the right to own firearms, after the sentence is served for non-violent offenders. I have been researching this topic And how to best address it.
Across the country, there is controversy about what is obscene. Often these focus on sexual education, content that discusses sexual orientation or gender identity, profanity, and references to sex. This controversy has led to renewed attempts to censor or restrict access to controversial material. What do you think is the proper role of the government in restrict material like this and where do you draw the line at what is obscene?
Where I draw the line does not matter, where parents draw the line is what matters. Government does not own children, they are their parent's children. However, see answer [3] when it comes to educational libraries and materials.