“Those who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary Safety deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.”
— Benjamin Franklin
At Monday’s Lorain City Council meeting, City Treasurer Terry Soto voiced what many residents feel:
“I am a resident too, and I’m tired of hearing about the First Amendment, Second Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment. Well, you know what? I have the right to live in the United States of America and live in a safe environment.”
Soto’s statement resonates with many, but it highlights a dangerous misunderstanding that’s spreading beyond Lorain: the belief that we can trade constitutional protections for the illusion of safety. History tells us this is a trap. History tells us that bargain comes at the cost of both.
When “Safety” Becomes an Excuse to Erode Rights
Several proposals discussed during this meeting should alarm anyone who values freedom:
- Criminalizing Panhandling and Loitering
City leaders are considering ordinances that restrict panhandling and loitering, despite multiple rulings—including from the 6th Circuit Court—that such laws violate the First Amendment. Free speech includes the right to ask for help. - Punishing Gun Owners Through Overreach
An ordinance was proposed to impose harsher penalties for how firearms are transported or carried, treating minor technical violations like criminal acts. The Second Amendment doesn’t attach conditions or qualifications: “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Full stop. Period. - Holding Parents Criminally Responsible
Another idea would automatically hold parents liable if their children violate curfew, forcing them to prove their innocence instead of requiring the city to prove guilt. That violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process protections.
These aren’t solutions. They’re reactionary measures crafted to “do something” rather than do what’s constitutional. They’ll most definitely expose Lorain taxpayers to lawsuits other cities have already lost.
This Isn’t Just Lorain — It’s a National Blueprint
This trend isn’t isolated. We’ve seen it before and we’re seeing it everywhere now:
- Create fear.
- Push restrictive policies and laws in the name of security.
- Normalize bypassing constitutional protections when they’re inconvenient.
It happened during COVID-19 when entire categories of rights were suspended overnight, supposedly “for our safety.” Temporary restrictions became permanent habits. That same playbook has now reached local government.
The Constitution Is Our Rock — Not Sand
The First, Second, and Fourteenth Amendments aren’t suggestions. They are non-negotiable safeguards:
- The First Amendment protects our speech, protests, and even the right to ask for help without government interference.
- The Second Amendment secures our ability to bear arms: without conditions, qualifications, or permission slips.
- The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees due process and equal protection under the law.
When leaders treat these rights as obstacles, they’re not protecting us. Instead, they’re undermining the very foundation of our freedom. You cannot build a stable society by laying policy on sand.
Doing “Something” Isn’t the Same as Doing the Right Thing
We’ve all heard it: “We have to do something.” It’s an emotional response born out of frustration, and it’s understandable. But doing something just for the sake of motion isn’t leadership — it’s panic dressed up as policy.
Real leadership means doing the right things, the right way. The Constitution isn’t an obstacle to progress — it’s the guidebook for it. When we work with our founding principles instead of against them, we can address public safety without eroding freedom:
- Instead of punishing homelessness, partner with nonprofits and local agencies to connect people in crisis with housing and services — without trampling the First Amendment.
- Instead of punishing gun ownership, expand voluntary training and community programs that build trust and awareness — while respecting the Second Amendment.
- Instead of presuming parental guilt, invest in youth programs and mentorship opportunities that keep kids engaged and safe — honoring the Fourteenth Amendment.
These are solutions that actually work, because they solve problems at their root instead of stacking more laws on top of broken systems.
The truth is, we don’t have to choose between safety and freedom. The Constitution was designed to give us both. But when leaders shortcut the process with ‘quick fixes,’ we lose twice — our money enforcing laws that won’t stand, and our rights in the process.
Lorain Deserves Better Leadership
Lorain doesn’t need leaders who see constitutional rights as optional. We need leaders who:
- Respect the First Amendment instead of criminalizing speech.
- Defend the Second Amendment without carving out exceptions.
- Uphold due process instead of presuming guilt.
Safety and freedom are not opposites. In America, they are inseparable. True safety comes from liberty, not from eroding it.
Because here’s the truth: when we trade liberty for safety, we lose both. And once those rights are gone, they are not coming back.
Watch the full Lorain City Council meeting here:
Lorain City Council — Sept. 2, 2025