Re: DOES THE 9th AMENDMENT PROTECT RESPONSIBLE REC DRUG USE?

In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> George Leroy Tyrebiter Jr. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:

>My right to kill my wife if she burns the toast is severly limited,
>and that's not a bad thing.

You are using wrong words.  Your *power* to kill your wife is severely
limited.  You have no right to kill anyone except in self-defence.

>Ok, maybe I should be able to kill her.

You probably have the ability to kill her.  You have no right to kill her
unless she attacks you and you fear for her life.  You have no legal power to
kill her unless she was convicted of a capital crime and you happen to be the
executioner.

That's the difference between a right, a power and an "ability".  I have the
ability to burn down my house.  I don't have the right to do it.  I might be
able to get the legal power to do it if I can demonstrate a good reason and
I can show I can do it without endangering neighboring houses.  The existence
of neighboring houses is why I don't have a right to burn down my house.

If my house starts burning for reasons out of my control, I have the right to
put the fire out.  I may not have the ability, though.  I don't have the right
to have the fire dept. come and put out the fire, but I do have that as an
entitlement if I have paid my property taxes.

And that's the difference between a right and an entitlement.

-Pete Zakel
 ([EMAIL PROTECTED])

"FLASH!  Intelligence of mankind decreasing.  Details at ... uh, when
 the little hand is on the ...."