Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh

LTE: Unfair to victims

While supporters and opponents of self-defense rights squabble with the court over the legal standing to challenge the criminalization of not reporting firearm theft ("NRA Loses Gun Law Battle," July 22), few recognize the absurdity of what this ordinance really represents. That absurdity is made clear when applying it to other crimes. Imagine laws requiring that within 24 hours: • A woman reports her rape or she goes to jail. • A car theft victim reports the theft or he permanently los...

Republicans anti-Democracy When it Comes to 3rd Party Choice

From the Campaign of Libertarian Candidate for President, Bob Barr: August 25, 2008 6:32 pm EST Atlanta, GA - Bob Barr's presidential campaign has recently learned of an action by the McCain campaign and the Pennsylvania Republican Party to have Barr removed from the state's ballot, this despite McCain's promise in the 2000 election that he would, "never consider, ever consider, allowing a supporter of [his] to challenge [his opponent]'s right to be on the ballot in all 50 states.''...

Patriotism: The last refuge of the scoundrel

Extraordinary Power and Privacy Grab. That's exactly what the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) is.  FISA empowers the government to spy on U.S. citizens communications -- their emails, phone calls, etc. As Libertarian Presidential Candidate, Bob Barr, notes in the video above, the only requirement some bureaucrat needs to tap into your communications -- phone, email or otherwise -- and record them for posterity is that the other party is located abroad. That person does not n...

The Definition of Insanity: LP Presidential Debate on The War on Drugs

Here's some very sober thinking on the Drug War at a recent Libertarian presidential candidate debate. Sober thinking on a crucial subject while Congress is busy-bodying itself on steroid scandals.

Who Owns You?

The question of who owns your body -- the government, voters, or you -- is asked in a different way in this Reason TV Video. Libertarians believe you own you, and by inference you own the byproducts of you -- that your property really is a representation of you in the past, with all that work it took to earn it. If you don't own you, that implies slavery of some sort or another.

Ron Paul: Libertarian or Republican? Does it Matter?

That's Ron Paul on a recent episode of CBS's "Meet the Press." Libertarian ideas are libertarian Ideas, and Ron Paul generally speaks them well. That's what makes the Libertarian Party different than other political parties. We are not about power and political convenience "just to get elected." We are about a belief system of freedom, liberty, and the right to say no thanks. We believe the government's sole role is to protect your freedom to live consensually among your fellow citizens ...

Police State is as Police State Does

Here's a nice video of tax dollars at work. A male driver with a pregnant wife and child in an SUV who is pulled over by the police attempts to clarify why he's been pulled over and, absent a satisfactory answer, refuses to sign the ticket he's given. The police officer immediately requests he exit the vehicle and turn his back and place his hands behind his head, during which the driver merely attempts to engage the officer in order to defuse the escalation and restate his concern. The ...

Eminent Domain Gone Wild

Pittsburgh residents are all too familiar with "eminent domain", the constitutionally sanctioned practice where governments take private land for legitimate public uses. Traditionally, that's meant things like roads and schools. Over the past several decades, however, governments have gone hog wild with eminent domain, routinely condemning property (or freezing its improvement for years like 5th and Forbes with highly publicized threats of confiscation and development plans) and turning it o...

More Consumer Freedom for Beer Sales

A recent poll was commissioned by the Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania [MBDAP] to gage public sentiment on allowing beer sales in supermarkets and convenience stores. The poll, run by Terry Moddonna's opinion research firm, found that a majority worried about increased underage drinking, although the figures were evenly split on allowing PA residents the same freedom as countless neighboring states where citizens don't have to make extra stops to buy beer, and can buy th...

Medical Marijuana: Medicine or Freedom?

Here's a clip from the comedian Drew Carey produced by reason.tv on Medical Marijuana and Marijuana illegality in general. Notice the people interviewed about their use for medicinal purposes. These people are not the animals Drug War zealots want you to believe. Apart from being prohibition -- which only creates a whole host of additional problems without actually stopping drug use -- marijuana prohibition is flat out immoral for people who choose to use it for their own reasons. L...