Comments on: Property Rights

By: SayUncle

SayUncle — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:22:54 +0000

This whole issue is only opaque to people who�ve lost their principles.

Not from a legal standpoint at all. regarding philosophical, well, I can go either way.

By: Billy Beck

Billy Beck — Wed, 07 May 2008 11:08:01 +0000

“It�s not even so much a legal question as a philosophical one…”

I tried and tried to make that point, David. Uncle was always sensible about it, but he was very rare in that regard.

This whole issue is only opaque to people who’ve lost their principles. They are rife now. That’s a much bigger and far more dangerous issue.

By: Gunstar1

Gunstar1 — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:08:31 +0000

Should their be liability or an exemption from it for either banning or not banning firearms?

I am with you on the general principal, just wondering about lawsuits from those actually harmed by such policies. Should at some point an employer be liable for doing nothing about a situation that they knew could and eventually did lead to harm?

By: SayUncle

SayUncle — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:09:40 +0000

Yes and yes.

By: David Codrea

David Codrea — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:07:26 +0000

Not arguing similar/dissimilar penalties, Uncle–the question is, if I own property, can I set the rules for people I allow access to it–assuming it is all voluntary association? Can I say “No Nazi flags” or “guns aren’t welcome” and enforce my property rights by compelling you to leave if you violate my rules?

It’s not even so much a legal question as a philosophical one–for instance, as much as I would disagree with him, I believe a store/restaurant owner should be able to “discriminate.” I also believe the marketplace is the best remedy for discouraging that by ensuring the prosperity of competitors who do not. And yes, I know there are laws against it. I’m looking at a different angle.

It boils down to coercion vs free association.

By: SayUncle

SayUncle — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:31:52 +0000

That will teach me to go from memory. It’s NC, not Florida. And it’s criminal trespassing (not felony).

By: Jim W

Jim W — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:19:15 +0000

Felony trespassing? Since when?

By: Nomen Nescio

Nomen Nescio — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:10:33 +0000

another difference is that guns in cars tend to be locked up out of sight, in order to prevent theft; confederate flags, on the other hand, tend to be displayed as prominently as possible in order to send a message.

i suspect it’d be better to treat this as a speech issue, analogous to employers disapproving of certain bumper stickers in their parking lot. i’d note, also, that “employee parking” often tends to be along the very back edge of the lot, where customers are less likely to spot their cars — for any number of good reasons — which would also tend to reduce the visibility of such messages.