Platform

I. Statement of Principles

We, the members of the Libertarian Party of Alabama, dare defend the rights of the individual.

We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.

We hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual: namely, (1) the right to life — accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action — accordingly we oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and (3) the right to property — accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.

Governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, but also protect those same rights. Therefore we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They should be left free by government to peacefully deal with one another as free traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.

II. Civil Liberties

No conflict exists between civil order and individual rights. Both concepts are based on the same fundamental principle that no individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group or government.

1. Victimless Crimes

   Because there can be no crime without a victim, we consider the very concept of a victimless crime to be a contradiction in terms. Therefore we call upon the state of Alabama to enact the following:

   1. The repeal of all laws restricting bartering as a form of exchange.
   2. The repeal of all laws restricting or controlling any form of gambling.
   3. The repeal of all laws which control or prohibit any consensual activity among consenting adults, or soliciting such activity.
   4. The immediate pardon and release, if incarcerated, of all persons convicted of any victimless "crime" not involving a violation of another's rights.
   5. The expunging of all arrest and conviction records related to such victimless "crimes," in addition to the nullification of the laws defining such acts as "crimes."

2. Freedom of Expression

   We oppose all limitations on freedom of expression. We call on the state of Alabama to protect the following:

   1. The right to protest: we oppose the act of requiring permits in advance for a protest, and also requiring any fee for such protests. Free speech protesting does not require a government permission slip.
   2. The right to a free press: there shall be no interference with acts of journalism, including “citizen journalists” not affiliated with any media organization.
   3. The right to petition: while the owner of a property has every right to determine what happens on the property, we oppose the government restricting the right of the people to petition in publicly accessible places.
   4. The right to free speech and expression: we oppose any efforts at censorship of legally protected speech, including on-line speech, and consider reasons such as “disinformation” or “public safety” to be insufficient to restrict speech.
   5. The right to access materials: we oppose publicly-funded institutions, such as libraries or schools, banning or censoring any materials, but they may have sections for age appropriate material.
   6. The right to free religion: we oppose state interference with religious practices that harm no one.

3. Jurisprudence

   The court system is punitive to the citizens of Alabama. Individuals can be financially ruined by having to defend themselves in court.

   Municipal court systems have acted as revenue generators for the cities. This inherent conflict of interest undermines the integrity of our legal system. Furthermore, the lack of accountability in appointed municipal judges, who are not elected by the people, creates a biased and unfair process.

   Whereas the court system is heavily unbalanced we call for the following reforms:

   1. In every case before the court where a Public Prosecutor or District Attorney is provided, a Public Defender is also provided for no charge.
   2. All persons should be treated equally before the law and entitled to full due process of law. Due process should determine innocence or guilt in a manner designed to protect the individual rights of all persons concerned, both the accused and the accuser. We hold that individuals may settle their differences outside the court, if both so agree.
   3. Since only people can commit crimes, we oppose civil asset forfeiture in every case.
   4. There should be no laws protecting certain individuals against others. Crimes against another person should be judged as per the crime itself and not be weighted more heavily if the victim is in a protected class, whether the category is police or other government official, or race, or gender, or any other group often afforded special protections.
   5. The right to a jury trial for all offenses, including those carrying significant jail time, is guaranteed to all Alabamians.
   6. The requirement for appellant bonds is eliminated, allowing defendants to appeal municipal court decisions without additional financial burden.
   7. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that prior municipal court decisions do not prejudice circuit court proceedings.
   8. Implement measures to prevent municipal courts from being used as revenue generators, such as limiting fine amounts and prohibiting quotas for citations or arrests.

4. Law Enforcement

   Members of law enforcement, including both police and prosecutors, are equal to other people; they are not a superior class above the general public, and they are subject to the same laws as everyone else at all times. We support holding members of law enforcement to a stricter standard of behavior and knowledge of the law as a condition of being in the public trust.

   We oppose police officers using unnecessary force on the disorderly or the criminally accused or handing out what they may consider to be instant punishments on the streets. We further deny that police have such inherent authority.

   We oppose the use and abuse by the police of the vague and subjective catch-all “crimes” of “disorderly conduct” and “interference with government functions.”

5. Qualified Immunity

   We favor an end to the doctrine of "qualified immunity," which protects them from personal liability in civil lawsuits unless they clearly have violated individual rights.

6. Civil Asset Forfeiture

   The practice of seizing property from individuals who have not been convicted of a crime is a violation of due process and property rights. Property cannot be guilty of committing a crime. We advocate for the elimination of civil asset forfeiture and all forms of seizure of property.

7. Substances

   We oppose the regulation of the sale of alcohol by the government, and support the abolishment of the Alabama Beverage Control. In particular we oppose that harder liquors can only be sold or purchased in specially licensed establishments.

   We call for an immediate end to the war on drugs and full legalization of all substances, specifically prohibited substances such as cannabis and substances containing psilocybin or psilocin.

   What an individual ingests, inhales, injects, or otherwise intakes into themselves is none of government's business.

III. Economic Liberty

We hold that the free market is the best way to ensure fairness and opportunity to all people. Economic liberty and individual rights can and do exist in harmony.

1. Land Use

   We recognize the right of property owners to acquire, control, use, transfer or dispose of their property in any manner that does not violate the rights of others. To that end we advocate:

   1. The abolition of zoning laws and building codes and permits.
   2. The abolition of laws preventing individuals from operating a business out of their home, or using their land for raising food, including the keeping of poultry and livestock.

2. Eminent Domain

   We advocate for the elimination of eminent domain and all forms of condemnation of property.

3. Licensing Laws

   Making a living should not require a government permission slip. We support the right of every person to earn an honest and peaceful living through the free and voluntary exchange of goods and services. Accordingly, we oppose occupational and other licensing laws that infringe on this right or treat it as a state-granted privilege. We encourage certifications by voluntary associations of professionals.

4. Foster Care and Adoption

   We support efforts to streamline adoption, expand foster care alternatives, and promote non-governmental solutions to ensure these children receive the care and support they need.

IV. Omissions

Our silence about any other particular issue should not be construed to imply approval. Nor does our advocacy of the right to perform certain activities imply an endorsement of the activities themselves. In every matter, we advocate the consistent application of the principle of the non-initiation of coercion, physical force, or fraud.