What Is The Libertarian Party?
Libertarians believe that every person has the right to arm themselves in self-defense. The right to self defense is one of our most fundamental rights. Few people will argue against that. However, some believe that people should not be allowed to arm themselves. Libertarians strongly disagree.
Imagine a small person, walking home after a late shift at work. Imagine that person is attacked by someone twice their size. The victim fights back but is unable to defend themselves against the much larger attacker.
Now imagine if the victim was armed. With the help of a gun, the victim has a chance at self defense against the much larger attacker.
Gun rights are important for everyone, but especially those that are physically weaker.
Banning guns would not curb violence or deaths…it will just change the nature of violence and deaths. It would result in violent criminals having more power to perpetrate violence against innocent people. Violent criminals will be emboldened if they know that average Americans are unable to defend themselves.
And banning guns would mean people who should be free to go about their business, for example traveling home from work after dark, will live in greater fear. It will mean that people who live in more dangerous areas (and who are typically poorer) have fewer options to defend themselves and their families.
Libertarians support people’s rights to defend themselves and to arm themselves. We see it as immoral for government to try to prevent someone from doing so.
Libertarians believe that the equal rights of all people matter all the time. No exceptions.
Other political parties prioritize the rights of some, but not others. Libertarians value the right of all to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose. We also believe that the government must treat all people fairly and equally before the law. Towards this end, we seek to:
• Protect freedom of religion, association, speech, press, and assembly.
• Reverse the militarization of law-enforcement agencies.
• Reform asset-forfeiture laws.
• Restore Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.
• Restore voting and gun rights for those convicted of non-violent drug offenses.
• Fight against federal overreach and government spying programs.
• Restrict law-enforcement use of general surveillance technologies.
• Protect internet freedom & privacy.
Libertarians seek a United States at peace with the world. The United States relies too heavily on our military might in foreign policy. For more than a decade, our country has been waging active wars in the Middle East. This has left our military tired, with several thousand dead, and many more thousands wounded physically and mentally.
A decade ago, the United States entered into nation-building thinking that it would help improve corners of the world that terrorists find opportunistic. Sadly, some of the nation-building that our country entered into with genuinely good intentions has backfired. We now know that no matter how sophisticated our military is and no matter how much money we spend, nation-building is far more complicated than we originally thought. Additionally, it may likely create more terrorists than it quells.
Imagine if China had a military base in Montana. Or Russia had a military base in Texas. How would Americans feel about that? We would likely feel insulted, oppressed, and mad. Some Americans would likely seek to actively oppose those bases. And the escalation would continue. We have seen that in the Middle East with our involvement there.
Libertarians believe that war is justified only in defense. We are opposed to a draft. If a war is just and necessary, Americans of all backgrounds will volunteer to fight it. We believe that a draft enforced by law is no different from slavery.
Libertarians believe that American foreign policy should focus more heavily on developing communications among people and finding peaceful resolutions to disagreements. We believe in maintaining a military that can defend us well if we are attacked and we believe part of that is ensuring that our troops are not so war-weary as they have been in recent years.
Imagine a small person, walking home after a late shift at work. Imagine that person is attacked by someone twice their size. The victim fights back but is unable to defend themselves against the much larger attacker.
Now imagine if the victim was armed. With the help of a gun, the victim has a chance at self defense against the much larger attacker.
Gun rights are important for everyone, but especially those that are physically weaker.
Banning guns would not curb violence or deaths…it will just change the nature of violence and deaths. It would result in violent criminals having more power to perpetrate violence against innocent people. Violent criminals will be emboldened if they know that average Americans are unable to defend themselves.
And banning guns would mean people who should be free to go about their business, for example traveling home from work after dark, will live in greater fear. It will mean that people who live in more dangerous areas (and who are typically poorer) have fewer options to defend themselves and their families.
Libertarians support people’s rights to defend themselves and to arm themselves. We see it as immoral for government to try to prevent someone from doing so.
Libertarians believe that the equal rights of all people matter all the time. No exceptions.
Other political parties prioritize the rights of some, but not others. Libertarians value the right of all to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose. We also believe that the government must treat all people fairly and equally before the law. Towards this end, we seek to:
• Protect freedom of religion, association, speech, press, and assembly.
• Reverse the militarization of law-enforcement agencies.
• Reform asset-forfeiture laws.
• Restore Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.
• Restore voting and gun rights for those convicted of non-violent drug offenses.
• Fight against federal overreach and government spying programs.
• Restrict law-enforcement use of general surveillance technologies.
• Protect internet freedom & privacy.
Libertarians seek a United States at peace with the world. The United States relies too heavily on our military might in foreign policy. For more than a decade, our country has been waging active wars in the Middle East. This has left our military tired, with several thousand dead, and many more thousands wounded physically and mentally.
A decade ago, the United States entered into nation-building thinking that it would help improve corners of the world that terrorists find opportunistic. Sadly, some of the nation-building that our country entered into with genuinely good intentions has backfired. We now know that no matter how sophisticated our military is and no matter how much money we spend, nation-building is far more complicated than we originally thought. Additionally, it may likely create more terrorists than it quells.
Imagine if China had a military base in Montana. Or Russia had a military base in Texas. How would Americans feel about that? We would likely feel insulted, oppressed, and mad. Some Americans would likely seek to actively oppose those bases. And the escalation would continue. We have seen that in the Middle East with our involvement there.
Libertarians believe that war is justified only in defense. We are opposed to a draft. If a war is just and necessary, Americans of all backgrounds will volunteer to fight it. We believe that a draft enforced by law is no different from slavery.
Libertarians believe that American foreign policy should focus more heavily on developing communications among people and finding peaceful resolutions to disagreements. We believe in maintaining a military that can defend us well if we are attacked and we believe part of that is ensuring that our troops are not so war-weary as they have been in recent years.
By: Dorrit Moussaeiff
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