Brits Viewpoint
Dodger, your comment that Brits are very concerned about what they are "allowed" or "not allowed to do" is very interesting. I love the English, I thank God I live under a system of Common Law in my country (USA) BUT there is a major major historical difference that effects our life perspectives. Technically English citiziens are "Subjects" of the Crown. Rights are conferred (given) or taken away by the Crown to the subjects. In the US, it is the citizens that confer rights to the government. Our inalignable rights are granted by a higher power (ie God not a frigging King), the right to liberty, equality and pursuit of happiness. We are not guaranteed happiness, just the pursuit thereof. As citizens we grant the governemnt the legal authority to make law on our behalf and for our favor, not the favor of the Crown. It is a vastly different concept.
Let's look at gun control real quick - the human right to protect yourself is inalienable. This cannot be taken away. We are allowed to have guns, not so we can hunt rabbits (although that is fun) but so we can protect ourselves against the government, tyrants, and criminals.
That's all I going to say about that!
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