Contact Caryn Ann Harlos
Cell 561.523.2250
Email CommunicationsDirector@LPColorado.org
Website www.LPColorado.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 31, 2017
LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF COLORADO DENOUNCES NEW YEAR’S EVE AMBUSH SHOOTING IN DOUGLAS COUNTY
DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO: It is with great sadness that the Libertarian Party of Colorado and the Libertarian Party of Douglas County learned of the fatal shooting of Douglas County Deputy Zachari Parrish as well as the wounding of others and offers their condolences to those families starting out a new year on such a tragic note. The alleged shooter, Matthew Riehl, claimed to be a “libertarian” candidate for the position of Douglas County Sheriff in a YouTube video released earlier this month. Mr. Riehl is not a member of the Libertarian Party and has no recorded involvement with the Party. He was not nominated or endorsed for any office, neither had the Libertarian Party of Colorado nor the Libertarian Party of Douglas ever heard of him prior to this incident. All Libertarian candidates must be members of the Party and sign a statement of belief in the Party’s principles of non-aggression, limited government (if any), and respect for the rights of others. Libertarian Party of Colorado State Chair and Libertarian Party of Douglas County Chair Wayne Harlos stated:
“The core of Libertarian philosophy is a belief in a peaceful means to political change and a repudiation of the initiation of physical force for political or social reasons. Ambushing any person and committing physical violence is as blatant a denial of the Party’s beliefs as any action can be. Ultimately this is not about politics but about an evil action that leaves several families in grief over death and injuries.”
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