Sen. Rand Paul: I'm not opposed to birth control

CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Senator Rand Paul, of Kentucky, spoke to a packed room of students at the College of Charleston on Tuesday afternoon.

The republican, who is rumored to run for president in 2016, wasted no time answering questions about hot topics including birth control.

A female C of C student asked the senator if emergency contraceptives, like Plan B, should be legal. This, considering Paul's public stance that life starts at conception.

Paul, who introduced legislation to outlaw abortion in the U.S. in 2013, caught some in the audience by surprise with his response.

"Plan B is taking birth control and I'm not against birth control," said Paul. "I don't know many republicans who would be against birth control."

Paul, several times, made it clear he isn't opposed to emergency contraception, known by some as the "morning after pill."

Paul also touched on what he feels needs to be done to stop the radical Islamics, ISIS, in the Middle East.

Paul acknowledged the U.S. needs to act now, but said that it shouldn't be American "boots on the ground." Paul said he wants to see Saudis, Iraqis and Kurds taking this fight head on.

"I'm tired of American troops being the ones that have to fight their wars for them," said Paul. "We trained them for a decade, they need to fight when they see their homeland is being threatened."

Paul said terrorism has lead to a massive invasion of privacy in the United States.

"After 9/11, we became frightened and we gave up our liberty and we passed something called the Patriot Act," said Paul.

Paul said he is in favor of authorities viewing phone, email and billing records, as long as a judge signs a warrant and has probable cause to do so.

"I think we live in a digital age and when you talk to young people their whole life revolved around their phone and I think they instinctively know the government shouldn't be looking at their stuff without the permission of a judge," said Paul.

Paul also supports extending and raising the limits for tax credits and interest deductions for students. He said that will make it easier and more practical to pay back school loans after college.

"To me your education is a business expense," said Paul.

Paul said having the younger generation on his side is an advantage, because they drive the rest of the nation's voters.

"I think a lot of Americans would agree with the statement that we need to do some nation building at home," said Paul.

Sen. Paul gave no indication on if and when he's going to officially announce if he's going to run for U.S. President in 2016.

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