Balancing order and liberty is only possible through deliberative process of grounding our politics and personal lives to shared historical experiences, norms, and institutions.
Bearing Arms and Natural Rights
The right to bear arms is unalienable because it is an extension of a right that existed before government was ever conceived.
The Danger of Incorporation Doctrine
The benefits of incorporation doctrine in securing rights at the state and local level have unfortunately been accompanied by a steady chipping away of America’s federalist system.
Link: Federalism and Crisis Government
We must hold sacred the finely tuned checks and balances of federalism. The rights and liberties we are afforded in this country are only as strong as the form of government we have in place that protects those rights and liberties.
A Well-Regulated Militia
A firm understanding of the 2nd Amendment and the original intent of the right to bear arms remains elusive for most Americans.
My Thoughts On the Anti-Lockdown Protests
The right to peaceably assemble is an indispensable feature of our republic. But protesters in this time of pandemic should do so safely, reasonably, and responsibly, if not for the safety of their community and out of respect for those waging the front-line battle against COVID-19, then at least out of practical concern for the effectiveness of their efforts.
Matters of the Heart | Part 6 – Abortion and the Non-Aggression Principle
In 1973, when the beginning of life was a mostly theocratic and philosophical question, the non-aggression principle perhaps demanded unrestricted access to legal abortions. But in 2020, evidences of life in the womb have become a scientific fact. This demands a reevaluation of the rights of an unborn child.
Link: Second Class Citizens?
Can a segment of America’s citizens be carved out as a separate class of people whose rights can be limited at the same time those rights are maintained by others? Judging by the desire to craft laws to further limit access to firearms for those between 18-21 years of age, many answer that question in the affirmative.
Matters of the Heart | Part 5 – The Right to Choose and Fetal Non-Personhood
Americans are fundamentally live-and-let-live people, so “The Right to Choose” is a strong and persuasive argument. But, it relies heavily on the concept of fetal non-personhood. For if a fetus, at any stage, were to be considered human life, the fetus would be entitled to the same rights of life and liberty as the mother.
Freedom Is The Highest Principle
As we deal with crisis, we must not allow freedom and security to become mutually exclusive ideas.