The Libertarian Party of Northern Virginia affirms that individuals have the ability
and sole responsibility to evaluate the risks and consequences of their actions and
decisions about their own property. As knowledge is dispersed among all people,
individuals are much better equipped to determine the appropriate precautions to
take or not to take in any given situation, as opposed to the heavy hand of
government.
The Libertarian Party of Northern Virginia recognizes that any rules or restrictions
placed on businesses will necessarily have a greater negative impact to small and
family-owned businesses relative to large corporations, due to a large corporations
greater political and financial ties allowing them to more easily acquire the capital
needed to continue to operate. These rules and restrictions will also
disproportionally impact the working class, who, unable to perform their
professions from home, imperils their livelihoods and unjustly impoverishes them
as a result of the restrictions.
The Libertarian Party of Northern Virginia recognizes the danger of suspending
individual liberty, especially in a crisis, as if politicians are able to suspend the rule
of law in a crisis, they will exacerbate the severity of a crisis in order to suspend the
rule of law.
The Libertarian Party of Northern Virginia also affirms that the First Amendment of
the Constitution of these United States and Article I Section 12 of the Constitution
of the Commonwealth of Virginia recognize and guarantee the right of free
assembly and provides no exceptions for emergencies.
The Libertarian Party of Northern Virginia also affirms that the First Amendment of
the Constitution of these United States and Article I Section 16 of the Constitution
of the Commonwealth of Virginia guarantee the right of religious liberty and
provides no exceptions for emergencies.
The Libertarian Party of Northern Virginia also affirms that Article I Section 11 of
the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia demands just compensation for
both lost profits and lost access to private property. We also recognize that while these terms may be defined by the General Assembly, the current circumstances
qualify under § 25.1-230.1 of the code of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and may
not be redefined by the Governor.
Given this, Libertarian Party of Northern Virginia resolves that they condemn
Governor Ralph Northam’s actions in threatening Virginia residents with fines and
misdemeanor charges for engaging in acts of free assembly, exercising religious
liberty, and exercising their rights over their property; and by doing so is infringing
on these individual rights in an unprecedented manner.
The Executive Board,
Libertarian Party of Northern Virginia