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Libertarians for Life

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Libertarians For Life is a nonsectarian group expressing an opposition to abortion within the context of libertarianism. Based in Wheaton, Maryland, Libertarians For Life believes abortion is not a right, but "a wrong under justice".[1][2][3]

Literature[edit]

The website of Libertarians For Life offers a wide variety of materials on most of the mainstream arguments of abortion, and many of the obscure arguments. All of the arguments are either neutral to the ideology of libertarianism or supportive of it. Indeed, many of the articles argue that opposition to abortion is not only compatible with being a libertarian, but even follows from the acceptance of libertarian principles.

Beliefs[edit]

To explain and defend its stance on abortion, Libertarians For Life argues that:[4]

  1. Human offspring are human beings, persons from fertilization.
  2. Abortion is homicide – the killing of one person by another.
  3. There is never a right to kill an innocent person. Prenatally, we are all innocent persons.
  4. A prenatal child has the right to be in the mother's body. Parents have no right to evict their children from the crib or from the womb and let them die. Instead both parents, the father as well as the mother, owe them support and protection from harm.
  5. No government, nor any individual, has a just power to legally "de-person" any one of us, born or preborn.
  6. The proper purpose of the law is to side with the innocent, not against them.

None of the arguments are based upon religious belief, and are intended to appeal equally to atheists and theists. This is a point of pride for the group, claiming to rely on science and reason, while both pro-life allies and pro-choice opponents use what they view as non-scientific or unreasoned arguments.[5][6][4]

Activities[edit]

See also: Abortion debate

Doris Gordon, an atheist, founded Libertarians For Life in 1976 "because some libertarian had to blow the whistle."[5][7] The primary purpose of Libertarians For Life is to push the Libertarian Party toward a more neutral or more pro-life view on abortion, similar to the party's 1988 presidential nominee, Ron Paul.[8][9] They seek to do the same to state affiliates of the Libertarian Party.

The Libertarian Party view on abortion[edit]

See also: Libertarian perspectives on abortion

The national platform of the Libertarian Party states: "Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.".[10]

There are pro-choice libertarian organisations that oppose anti-abortion objectives, such as the Association of Libertarian Feminists and Prochoice Libertarians [11]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ McElroy, Wendy (2002). Liberty for Women: Freedom and Feminism in the Twenty-First Century, p. 156–157, Chicago: Ivan R. Dee. URL accessed December 28, 2009.
  2. ↑ Mosher, James (May 27, 2005). "Maryland Libertarians making big push into state politics". The Daily Record (nl.newsbank.com). http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4183/is_20050527/ai_n14645104/. Retrieved December 28, 2009. </li>
  3. ↑ O'Brien, Nancy Frazier (September 24, 2004). "Priest mobilizes faith leaders, voters on abortion as election issue". Catholic News Service (catholicnews.com). http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0405259.htm. Retrieved December 28, 2009. </li>
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Libertarian Case Against Abortion. Libertarians for Life. (libertariansforlife.org). URL accessed on December 28, 2009.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Doris, ({{{year}}}). "Abortion and Rights: Applying Libertarian Principles Correctly," International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 19, 96–126.
  6. ↑ Lewis, Larry L. (1997). Proclaiming the Pro-Life Message: Christian Leaders Address the Abortion Issue, p. 27, Hannibal, Missouri: Hannibal Books. URL accessed December 28, 2009.
  7. ↑ Bandow, Doug (1994). The Politics of Envy: Statism as Theology, p. 28, New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. URL accessed December 28, 2009.
  8. ↑ Turner, Wallace (September 6, 1987). "Libertarians Pick Ex-Congressman in '88 Bid". The New York Times (nytimes.com): pp. 135. http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/06/us/libertarians-pick-ex-congressman-in-88-bid.html. Retrieved December 28, 2009. </li>
  9. ↑ Turner, Wallace (September 4, 1987). "Major Libertarian Candidate Opposes Party Stand on Abortion". The New York Times (nytimes.com): pp. A10. http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/04/us/major-libertarian-candidate-opposes-party-stand-on-abortion.html. Retrieved December 28, 2009. </li>
  10. ↑ National Platform of the Libertarian Party. Libertarian Party. (lp.org). URL accessed on December 28, 2009.
  11. ↑ http://www.prochoicelibertarians.net

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External links[edit]

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