(By Patrick Culley, a Hoosier Libertarian)

The government that governs least, governs best. Take Libertarian City-County Councillor Ed Coleman's proposal to end the ban on firearms in city parks for example. Coleman's timely proposal addresses a glaring problem with our city's current laws. As it stands now, you have the right to defend your life from an armed assailant on the street, in a supermarket, in a department store, a state park, a federal park, just about everywhere except a city park. Are Indy's public parks such utopian safe zones that you don't need to worry about protecting yourself there? What makes a city park safer than a state or federal park where you are allowed the right to defend your life?

Let's be clear: this proposal is not about "gun rights". It's about the most fundamental of human rights; the right to self defense.

Dear Fellow Hoosiers,

In light of recent events, the Indianapolis International Airport, by order of Transportation Security Administration, has implemented the use of full body scanners. Many are unaware of the nature of this machine. We need all Hoosiers that care about their privacy to contact their Congressmen, Senators, the Indianapolis Airport Authority, and the TSA.

We have written two form letters that you can use to attach your name and send off.  You can download them here and here.

On Saturday, January 30th, the LPIN held our 2010 Stategic Goals meeting in conjunction with the regular first quarter meeting of the State Central Committee. 
 
Well over 50 LPIN members from all over the state gathered to consider the 2010 LPIN Roadmap developed by Executive Director Chris Spangle for this crucial election year. Any current, dues paying member may recieve a copy of the 2010 Road Map by emailing Spangle at lpinhq@lpin.org.

Among the goals for this year are to maintain ballot access by achieving at least 2% in the Indiana Secretary of State election (we have averaged about 4.5% over the past two election cycles), gain financial stability by doubling the monthly pledges to our 1994 Socity, recruit 125 candidates for the Indiana General Assembly to support our SOS candidate and to increase LNC members in Indiana to place us in the top 10 state affiliates.
 

WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party (LP) Chairman William Redpath issued the following statement today in response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address:

"Tonight's speech was a reminder that, for decades, the policies of Republicans and Democrats alike have failed. Libertarians are asking people to take matters into their own hands. Instead of just complaining, we're encouraging ordinary Americans to step up and run for Congress on the Libertarian Party ballot line.

LPIN Executive Director Chris Spangle speaks out against the Indiana Gay Marriage Amendment at the Indiana Equality Action press conference on Wednesday.  

By Bill Richmond, originally published in Winchester News-Gazette.

In previous years, the Libertarian Party of Indiana held a strategy meeting in every January of an election year. Chair Sam Goldstein has announced the restarting of this tradition on January 30th, 2010. All LPIN membership is encouraged to attend, and help set our goals for not only the 2010 election cycle, but the next two years. Long range planning is essential to success.

All those planning to run for office in 2010 should attend this meeting.