Edwin Firmage was a law professor at the University of Utah who studied nuclear weapons, and the great-great-grandson of Brigham Young. In the interview he discusses his opposition to, and the national debate concerning, the MX Missile system. He explains the position and actions of the Mormon Church, of which he is a member, as well other organizations that came together to oppose the MX missile being based in Utah. The reasons for opposition included spiritual, environmental, and strategic. He explains that this opposition came as a surprise to the Air Force and the government, because Utah is a notably conservative state that supports the Air Force and is strong on national security. He believes that the plan to deploy the MX in Utah revealed a first strike capability, which poses danger since it relies entirely on the idea of deterrence but does nothing to protect from accidental or irrational nuclear attack.
