Pledge

Signing the Non-Aggression pledge, or just "the pledge" for short, is a requirement to join the Libertarian Party as a voting member. It reads, "I certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals."

The pledge was introduced early in the party's history [year?] with the intent to reassure authorities and the public that the Libertarian Party is a non-violent organization. Its language evokes the Non-Aggression Principle commonly held to be the philosophical basis of libertarianism.

Some libertarians believe the pledge does not necessarily preclude violent action to resist tyranny, because tyrannical governments initiate force, and therefore, revolutionary acts qualify as self-defense.

The pledge has both passionate supporters and critics. It has been cited as a reason why policies such as the so-called "Fair Tax", a plan for a national sales tax, militarized borders, restrictions on campaign contributions, and other policies that have been supported by some Libertarian candidates and members, are in fact un-libertarian, due to the fact that these policies involve initiating force.

References

David Nolan explains meaning and use of the Pledge

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