3 ms·
> This privilege is represented by a motor vehicle operator's license, which may be revoked by the state for a variety of reasons. If that was a sound argument
by Amadou 13y ago
> This privilege is represented by a motor vehicle operator's license, which may be revoked by the state for a variety of reasons.
If that was a sound argument, then one could say that the right to own a firearm is really just a privilege because most states require a license to own a firearm which may be revoked by the state for a variety of reasons. Or similarly that the right to vote is just a privilege because you must register and there are a variety of reasons for the state to revoke it.
Just because a right is regulated does not make it a privilege.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- opinali 13y agoDriving is legally defined as a privilege, just check your state's MVC guide.
- Amadou 13y agoWell, talk about moving the goal-posts, but you aren't the original poster so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. The right to freedom of movement is not really a right if it does not include by all available means. For example, to say you have the right to walk from the east coast to the west coast but not the right to drive a car (or ride a train/bus/plane - all arguments that have been made post 9/11) means that you de facto do not have the right to travel from the east coast to the west coast because it is impractical for the vast majority of the population to walk it. I'm sure there are motor vehicle codes that have adopted the language of privilege rather than right if for no other reason than it makes it easier for them to claim that moral authority later on, but that doesn't make it true in the sense of natural law. Government does not grant people privileges because everything the government does comes from the people to begin with.
- opinali 13y agoDriving depends on a huge amount of infrastructure which is provided or controlled by the government, everything from roads to refined fuel. As far as I know you actually can drive a car without a license, if you do that in your private property (e.g. suppose you own a farm or other big property with internal driveways), but not in any public roads. Yeah we pay for the roads, and oil infrastructure and other things with our taxes... it doesn't matter. Google [is driving a privilege], you'll find citations of court decisions, some people have tried to assert their "right to drive" without success.
- Amadou 13y agoNow your moving the goal posts back to the original poster's claim that licensing is the granting of a privilege rather than regulation of a right.
- thwest 13y agoOwning a firearm is an individual privilege. A well armed militia is a community right.
- jlcx 13y agoI don't think it's accurate to say that most states require a license just to own a firearm. There are age, mental health, and criminal background restrictions, but that's not quite the same thing. Some states do have gun ownership licenses, but most only require licenses to carry a firearm, and in many of those states, that is technically only required for concealed carry.
- Amadou 13y agoAmend "most" with many. A quick scan of wikipedia suggests there are about 20 states that require a permit to purchase or registration of ownership. Federal law also restricts ownership by convicted felons in all 50 states which is essentially the same thing - regulation by any other name.