At my office, we have a forum for employees to post gripes, thoughts on opinions on work and current events issues. This one kind of set me off.

What Greg said reminds me "Guns do not kill people. Only people kill people." If we expand the spirit behind it, why bother to ban things, such as aggressive weapons, heroin and other harmful drugs? Why do we need the laws and rules in our society? Eventually, it's peoples' responsibilities to regulate themselves to use those things, because "those things" themselves do not kill or harm people. Personally, I don't like any talking with this kind of tune.

This started off as a thread on Mark McGuire's use of a dietary supplement with alleged "performance enhancing qualities". I took my response a little further than that. Here it is:

What Greg said reminds me "Guns do not kill people. Only people kill people." If we expand the spirit behind it, why bother to ban things, such as aggressive weapons, heroin and other harmful drugs?

There's no reason or need to ban any of these things. In a free society, the only actions that should be criminalized are actions that directly harm the person or property of another individual without that individual's consent.

For example: shooting heroin into your own arm or the arm of some else who asked you to should be perfectly legal. Shooting heroin into the arm of someone against their will should not be. A less dramatic way to look at it is, it's legal to borrow your friend's TV with his or her permission. It's illegal to take it without their permission. Whether we're talking about guns, heroin, property exchange, performance enhancing supplements or 70s retro "fashions", that's where law should start and stop. Period. Banning is never, ever, justified under any circumstances.

Why do we need the laws and rules in our society?

We don't need the vast majority of the laws and rules in our society. Any rule that doesn't fit into the model I stated above (In a free society, the only actions that should be criminalized are actions that directly harm the person or property of another individual without that individual's consent) is unnecessary and morally reprehensible.

All those rules serve to do is increase the power and control of the people in power and foster reliance upon our leaders for the ways in which we should live our day to day lives. I, for one, would much prefer to make my own choices and allow others to make theirs.

Eventually, it's peoples' responsibilities to regulate themselves to use those things (added: or NOT use those things), because "those things" themselves do not kill or harm people.

That's absolutely true, and it's the most succinct and lucid summary of freedom of individual choice I've seen in quite some time. My only regret is that you're arguing for the opposition. As I stated in an earlier post, I drink, smoke, gamble and carry a sidearm with a high-capacity magazine. I'm comfortable with those activities and their associated risks. I do not use drugs or employ the services of prostitutes. I am not comfortable with those risks. However, if someone else is comfortable with the chances, nothing should stop them from taking them. Because I treasure my own freedom, I'm willing to allow that same freedom to others. That's the idea the United States was founded on, whether we choose to remember that fact or not.

The fact that it is people's responsibility to control, conduct and execute their own actions is not only a universal truth, it is the cornerstone of any free society, particularly the American free society. This is the ideal for which our founding fathers fought a revolution, for which every soldier has put on a uniform and for which every lover of individual liberty would argue, fight and die to restore and protect. There's no such thing as a little bit of freedom.

Sorry this has turned into a rant, but I sat back and watched this debate circle around an important issue as long as I could. Perhaps the most valuable freedom of all is the freedom to hold different opinions. While I may not agree with your argument, I'm honored (and, admittedly surprised given the gross state of erosion individual human rights are suffering today) that you have the right to make it.

M_