As Governor Deal signed into law the 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law on Thursday, a step forward was taken in assuring those in critical need of medical care can receive the help they require from responding public safety personnel, without fear of arrest. The 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law allows potentially overdosed persons, or those who may be around them at the time of overdose, to notify 9-1-1 of a medical emergency due to possible overdose without fear of prosecution if drugs or drug related objects are found on scene.
The Libertarian Party of Georgia stands opposed to the war on drugs in its entirety. While this law is no huge victory in the fight to end the war on drugs, it does put in place a common sense exemption which LP Georgia supports. Doug Craig, chairman of LP Georgia, states, “While our desire is to ensure that no one is arrested for actions which place no one but the individual in question in jeopardy, this legislation allows for those in fear for their lives or the lives of others to be able to contact public safety personnel without fear of arrest, thereby saving lives.” LP Georgia stands with Governor Nathan Deal and the Georgia General Assembly in support of this much-needed action to allow those in need to feel safe contacting emergency services without fear of arrest for drug related crimes.
The official position of the Libertarian Party: “Government exists to protect the rights of every individual including life, liberty and property. Criminal laws should be limited to violation of the rights of others through force or fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Individuals retain the right to voluntarily assume risk of harm to themselves.”
