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Press Releases March 8, 2005 The Libertarian Party of Philadelphia stands up for gun owners' rights. Citing constitutional protections of gun ownership, the Libertarian Party of Philadelphia (LPP) has denounced State Rep. John Myers' draft legislation that would allow Philadelphia to impose more restrictive gun control than the rest of the state. "Our Constitutions, both federal and state, guarantee that our government will not deny us our right to own guns,” said Joseph Leibrandt, Chair of the LPP. The Libertarians hold that in addition to turning a blind eye to the Constitution, this law operates under the false assumption that limited or outlawed gun ownership would make Philadelphia a safer place. "It is an absolute falsehood that the police can or will protect your life, your family's lives, or your home from criminals. The job of the police is to investigate crimes that have already been committed, and arrest those responsible,” said Mr. Leibrandt. "No one in the government is legally responsible for protecting you, nor can they be held accountable if you become a crime victim." The Libertarians point out that since poor areas often have higher crime rates, and fewer police per capita, anti-gun laws hurt the poor the most. Leibrandt explained, "Statistics clearly show that the US cities with the strictest gun control have the highest rate of violent crime." Referring to history, Mr.Leibrandt stressed that even the world's best-known pacifist understood this. In the words of Gandhi, "Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of Arms, as the blackest." "If even Gandhi understood and supported the private ownership of guns, shouldn't Philadelphians do likewise?" asked Mr. Leibrandt. The Libertarian Party, founded in 1971, is the third largest political party in the United States. It is committed to America's heritage of freedom: individual liberty and personal responsibility, a free-market economy of abundance and prosperity and a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, and free trade.
Feb 7, 2005 Philadelphia Libertarians Oppose Banning Smoking in the Workplace Philadelphia, PA - The Libertarian Party of Philadelphia (lpPhilly) today announced the beginning of its campaign to defeat the bill to ban smoking in most workplaces introduced in City Council recently. "This anti-smoking bill is nothing more than a vicious attack against anyone who owns property in Philadelphia", said Joseph Leibrandt, Chair of the lpPhilly. "Why does City Council think it should dictate to a bar or restaurant owner where customers can smoke? The choice of allowing smoking or not should be left to business owners, employees, and patrons. If ordinary people really want smoke free bars, bar owners will voluntarily open smoke free bars. In fact, in the past few years several new smoke free bars have opened in Philadelphia." If a customer is caught by the police smoking in a bar every week, the bar owner will have to pay $15,000 in fines every year. Said Leibrandt: "This has nothing to do with health -- along with red light cameras, this is just another way to get money from the hard pressed Philadelphia taxpayer!" Leibrandt continued: "The City of Philadelphia takes on average $150 via the wage tax every month from each Philadelphian. Given a free choice between (a) a city government that takes this much and interferes in whether you can smoke in a bar, or (b) a smaller city government which doesn't take any money from you in wage tax, which would you rather have?" The Libertarian Party, founded in 1971, is the third largest political party in Philadelphia and the nation, with more candidates elected to office than all the other third parties combined. It is committed to peace and free markets -- see www.lpPhilly.org for details. |