Colorado Libertarian Party reaffirms support of self-defense with gun rights resolution
Tired of hearing from major party presidential candidates who they say are soft on gun rights, members of the Colorado Libertarian Party have passed a resolution reaffirming the group’s opposition to any law regulating firearms and ammunition.
The resolution, which the state party’s nine-member board passed in August, says Colorado Libertarians oppose any law that restricts, registers or monitors firearms and ammunition. The resolution also denies the legitimacy of victimless crimes and expresses support for due process rights.
“The government has steadily encroached upon these rights by illegitimately regulating and restricting access for firearms and ammunition and may further seek to deprive people who have been convicted of no crime of their inherent right to full self-defense,” according to the resolution.
The Colorado group opposes firearms restrictions for those placed on federal watch and “no-fly” lists and called for the repeal of all existing firearms and ammunition regulations.
“It was just more and more people who are running for president coming out and saying, ‘We want to add more people to the list of people who can’t have a firearm,'” said state party chairman Jay North. “They’re saying stuff about taking firearms away from people or keeping them away from them. And the Libertarian Party’s stance is that you have a right to self-defense and if that includes purchasing and using a firearm, so be it. That is your self-defense.”
Republican nominee Donald Trump, who is backed by the National Rifle Association, has described himself as a defender of Second Amendment rights, but he’s also indicated that he would support efforts to ban the sale of firearms to people on the terrorist watch list.
Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, has repeatedly expressed support for gun control measures, including those that would limit access to guns for domestic abusers, people with mental illness and terrorists.
North said he’s unimpressed by both candidates.
“So far, every presidential candidate out there has not really taken a hard-line stance to say, ‘Freedom and liberty is freedom and liberty no matter what,'” North said. “There isn’t one out there doing it. We as a party decided, ‘We’ll do it.'”
There are currently 28,735 active registered Libertarian voters in Colorado, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
North said people seem particularly interested in Libertarian ideas this election cycle, and he’s hoping that makes a difference in the party’s numbers come November.
“This year has been extra special for some reason,” North said. “Because nobody wants to pay attention to Trump and Clinton so they’re looking for an option.”
Some have turned their attention to Gary Johnson, the 63-year-old businessman and Libertarian nominee.
“Johnson is turning heads, so they’re looking at us and they’re paying attention to the Libertarian party,’ North said. “We stand up and say, ‘Now that you’re looking at us, here are our principles, this is what we believe.’ Hopefully we’re getting people to join the party.”
Among Colorado voters, the right to self-defense seems to be an especially hot topic. North pointed to the gun control measures Colorado Democrats passed in 2013 that prompted recall efforts against Sen. Evie Hudak, Sen. John Morse and Sen. Angela Giron. Morse and Giron were ousted in recall elections, while Hudak resigned.
North said the Libertarian Party’s strong stance on gun rights could draw in some Republican voters.
“Colorado has guts,” North said. “The people who live here in Colorado stand up for whatever they want. I’ve always been saying self-defense rights in Colorado are very important.”

