Resolution of the Libertarian Party of West Virginia in Response to ICE Actions in Minnesota
Regarding the ICE Shooting in Minnesota and the Protection of Second Amendment Rights
Adopted by the Libertarian Party of West Virginia
WHEREAS, reports from Minnesota indicate that agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shot a private citizen during an attempted apprehension, raising serious questions about the use of force, the circumstances of the encounter, and the transparency of federal law enforcement operations; and
WHEREAS, the Libertarian Party of West Virginia affirms that all individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and property, and that government agents—federal, state, or local—must be held to the highest standards of accountability when exercising force; and
WHEREAS, early information surrounding the incident suggests potential implications for the exercise of Second Amendment rights, including whether the individual’s lawful possession of a firearm was treated as justification for escalated force by federal agents; and
WHEREAS, the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental constitutional protection that applies to all peaceful individuals, and the mere presence of a firearm—absent unlawful aggression—must never be construed as grounds for violence by government actors; and
WHEREAS, ICE has a documented history of opaque operations, civil liberties violations, and excessive use of force, and the people of West Virginia and the United States deserve full transparency and independent review whenever federal agencies harm or kill members of the public;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Libertarian Party of West Virginia condemns the unnecessary use of force by federal agents and calls for a full, independent, and public investigation into the Minnesota shooting, including the release of all recorded footage, operational reports, and all relevant evidence; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Libertarian Party of West Virginia calls for any ICE official involved in this and any other interaction with the public be held to the highest level of scrutiny, and accountable to the fullest extent of the law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Libertarian Party of West Virginia demands that ICE and all federal law enforcement agencies adopt clear, constitutionally grounded policies that respect the rights of armed citizens and prohibit treating lawful firearm possession as a threat per se; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Libertarian Party of West Virginia urges West Virginia’s congressional delegation to support legislation increasing transparency, civilian oversight, and accountability mechanisms for ICE and other federal enforcement bodies; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Libertarian Party of West Virginia reaffirms its commitment to defending civil liberties, limiting federal overreach, and ensuring that no government agency operates above the law or beyond the scrutiny of the people it claims to serve.
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