We are not fighting for rights. We are fighting to regain rights we once had.
Richard Nascak
Co-Executive Director Florida Carry.
September 29, 2012
Gun Rights Policy Conference: Panel on State Legislative Affairs Briefing I.
[The only tweak I have to add is that gun rights aren’t lost or gained. They are infringed or respected. Hence I think this should be stated as “We are fighting to have our rights respected.”—Joe]
I think of rights as political constructs: we have the rights the powers that be decide to give us. I’m aware of the idea that rights are ordained by God, but I was under the impression that you were an atheist. Where do rights come from, in your view?
They are natural rights. We are born with them.
As I see it the end result is the same as saying “God given” or “Endowed by their creator…” and don’t quibble with theists on that point.
It’s hard to argue that a natural right to self defense doesn’t exist. As far as I’m aware, there isn’t a creature alive that won’t defend itself to the death if threatened. The one exception that I know of is a human being that has been taught that fighting is wrong regardless of the circumstances.
Gun control is no different than taking the quills off of a porcupine and releasing it back into the wild.