The Libertarian Party offers Americans a unique political platform through its blend of traditionally conservative and liberal views. No other political party champions the cause of assault rifle owners and bong toting, cannabis enthusiasts alike. Since its creation in 1971, the diversity of the Libertarian platform has attracted increasing support. With 166 of its members currently elected to office, "the Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States" (Our History).

Libertarians refer to their caucus as "the Party of Principle." The fundamental belief that "all individuals … have the right 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" unifies all Libertarians (National Platform). Concurrent to this principle, the party believes that "government's only role is to help individuals defend themselves from force and fraud" (National Platform).

In general, Libertarians have a liberal position on individual rights. They believe that women have the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion. However, Libertarians object to government funding of abortions, because this practice may "force someone who believes that abortion is murder to pay for another’s abortion" (National Platform). The party’s acceptance of homosexuality further exemplifies its liberal views towards personal freedoms. Libertarians oppose "laws and policies which are intended to condemn, affirm, encourage, or deny sexual lifestyles or any set of attitudes about such lifestyles" (National Platform). The party supports the right of homosexuals to serve in the armed forces and "calls for retraction of all less-than-honorable discharges previously assigned for such reasons…" (National Platform).

In contrast, the Libertarian Party has an extremely conservative platform on firearms ownership. Libertarians "oppose all laws at any level of government restricting, regulating, or requiring the ownership, manufacture, transfer, or sale of firearms or ammunition" (National Platform). This position stems from their underlying belief in the right of self-defense. The party also objects to firearms registration and "attempts to ban weapons or ammunition on the grounds that they are risky or unsafe" (National Platform). This position implies that Libertarians support civilian ownership of machine guns, grenades, and even large bombs. Consequently, the Libertarian Party demands the elimination of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

The Libertarian Party has a variety of other positions that are unique to its platform. Libertarians advocate the repeal of all laws concerning "victimless crimes." The party defines "victimless crimes" as actions that do not "infringe on the rights of others" (National Platform). Libertarians support the legalization of prostitution, gambling, suicide, and all narcotics. If a Libertarian candidate were elected President, he or she would issue an executive pardon and free individuals incarcerated solely for those "victimless crimes."

Libertarians accept a "moral principle of self-ownership" in which government involvement and intervention into the lives of its citizens should be nominal at most (National Platform). The party’s platform reflects its willingness to "challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual" (National Platform). Libertarians contest the widespread use of Social Security Numbers as a means of personal identification. Believing such identification compromises individual privacy, Libertarians contend that participation in the National Census should be voluntary. Not surprisingly, the party opposes the military draft and seeks "the abolition of the … Selective Service System" (National Platform).

In the Preamble to its National Platform, the Libertarian Party states "respect for individual rights is the essential precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be banished from human relationships, and that only through freedom can peace and prosperity be realized" (National Platform). The party hopes to share these views through the presidential campaign of Harry Browne. Although they recognize that the defeat of Browne is inevitable, Libertarians have an opportunity to remind Americans of the freedoms that this country’s founders intended. 

Works Cited

The Libertarian Party: Our History.  2000.  Libertarian Party.  http://www.lp.org/organization/history.shtml. 

National Platform of the Libertarian Party.  July 2000.  Libertarian Party.  http://www.lp.org/issues/platform_all.shtml.