Rand Paul: If We Ban Religions, Censor Internet "The Terrorists Will Have Won"

In his opening remarks at Tuesday's Republican presidential debate hosted by CNN, candidate Sen. Rand Paul said banning religions and censoring the internet means the terrorists will have won.





SEN. RAND PAUL: The question is, how do we keep America safe? The question is, what does he mean by that? Like they do in North Korea? Like they do in China? [Marco] Rubio says we should collect all Americans' records all of the time. The constitution says otherwise. I think they're both wrong. I think we defeat terrorism by showing them that we do not fear them. I think if we ban certain religions, if we censor the internet, I think that at that point the terrorists will have won. Regime change hasn't won. Toppling secular dictators in the Middle East has only led to chaos and the rise of radical Islam.



I think if we want to defeat terrorism, I think if we truly are sincere about defeating terrorism, we need to quit arming the allies of ISIS. If we want to defeat terrorism, the boots on the ground. The boots on the ground need to be Arab boots on the ground. As commander in chief I will do whatever it takes to defend America. But in defending America, we cannot lose what America stands for. Today is the Bill of Rights anniversary. I hope we will remember that and cherish that in the fight on terrorism.