Today’s readings of Atlas Shrugged included Ayn’s explaining exactly how she views laws that seek to control a man by force:
“But the law compells you to volunteer a defense!”
There was laughter at the back of the courtroom.
“That is the flaw in your theory, gentlemen,” said Rearden gravely, “and I will not help you out of it. If you choose to deal with men by means of compulsion, do so. But you will discover that you need the voluntary co-operation of your victims, in many more ways than you can see at present. And your victims should discover that it is their own volition – which you cannot force – that makes you possible. I choose to be consistent and I will obey you in the manner you demand. Whatever you wish me to do, I will do it at the point of a gun. If you sentence me to jail, you will have to send armed men to carry me there – I will not volunteer to move. If you fine me, you will have to seize my property to collect the fine – I will not volunteer to pay it. If you believe that you have the right to force me – use your guns openly. I will nto help you to disguise the nature of your actions.”
It is interesting to note that our government has already progressed past this point, in that it is more than willing to employ force against those who would break laws requiring men to “volunteer” their goods and services to the “greater good”. Worse, still, the populace nearly demands the application of that force… so long as it is their own “greater good” being benefited, thanks to someone else’s “volunteering”.
Is it just me or do the antis also want us to cooperate with the criminals?
“Don’t fight back”, “Be a good witness”, “Give them what they want”. “More people are hurt by firearms then are helped”.
All variations on the theme of letting others control you without having to resort to force.
Never thought of it before, but thugs are thugs whether they wear the color of law or the color of a gang.
As I have said before, and will repeat at every available opportunity, those who disarm law-abiding citizens are, in fact, aiding and abetting criminals, and could even be loosely categorized as “accessories before the fact”.
I wonder if the anti-rights advocates would be so willing to “give him what he wants” when he wants their money, their daughter, their life… But, as the saying goes, a liberal is just a conservative who has never been robbed.