The right to encryption and the "right" to abortion don't have the same basis - encryption kills no one.
Amen! But encryption IS regulated as a munition. In military applications, weak crypto could (and has) cost some people their lives. Strong crypto reduces the power of governments or other entities to oppress people of differing views. Strong crypto is a powerful influence to resist oppression of one group by another, just as Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Speech, and the Right to Bear Arms do. I don't see strong crypto as a threat to Christians. Strong crypto is a major threat to totalitarian governments, spies, and criminals. Strong crypto is a minor inconvenience for certain law enforcement agencies in some circumstances. Three out of four isn't ideal, but life just isn't that simple. By the way, if you think 700 Club support for strong crypto without key escrow is strange -- call my BBS for some amusement. You will find Bible search software, church management tools, and two file areas devoted to cryptography. Not everyone on this list is an athiest, anarchist, or whatever. Mike Johnson mpj@csn.org BBS 303-938-9654