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Comment by panarky | Hacker News Reader

To be truly secure from government intrusion, we must accept the inevitable and horrific consequences.

The freedom to own lethal weapons leads directly and inevitably to the massacre of innocent first graders.

Likewise, the freedom to be truly "secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects" leads directly and inevitably to monstrous and evil acts.

Freedom is dangerous. Both the second amendment and the fourth cause us to "arm our enemies".

Freedom is also analog, not digital. We can accept some limits on our freedom to reduce the risk.

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>We can accept some limits on our freedom to reduce the risk.

Speak for yourself. I don't wish to limit my freedom for any reason.

any freedom? isnt that a bit drastic? or are you referring to the particular issue of privacy here?

We exist for only a moment compared to how long the universe has existed, and how long it will exist.

I don't intend to spend this short time worrying if someone else would approve of my choices.

I am more than capable of making my own decisions without harming myself and others, to hell with anyone who believes I don't deserve to do so.

In one dimension I find existence, in two I find life, but in three, I find freedom.

Although I agree in a way, you already have limits to your freedom that you have agreed to tacitly. The differences, for instance, in the technology (from GPS to tanks) allowed to the military and to the citizenry. It is codified, explicit, and everyone seems to agree that it's okay. It's certainly a limit on your freedom, if you want to speak absolutely, but if you don't think it's reasonable, that's a difficult point to make properly.

Yes freedom is analog and has rewards and consequences. There are countries which have decided that giving the common person guns is not worth it.

"Freedom is dangerous" is certainly one of the major themes in play here, and I actually cut a bit relating this (the knife and hammer thing is the remainder) because it was getting a bit too philosophical. I'm glad you (and certainly others) heard the echo and followed it back to the sound.

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