Rights vs. Privileges

What is the difference between a right and a privilege?

Thanks to the 2nd amendment and to Texas law, an 18 year old can buy two assault weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. That 18 year old need not undergo and training or testing to safely use those deadly weapons. He need not be licensed. He can issue threats about shooting up an elementary school, but we have to let him have his weapons. That is a guaranteed constitutional right reinforced by state law.

Presumably, in Texas, that same 18 year old cannot hop behind the wheel of a car without passing written and road tests, and possessing a state-issued license. Driving is a privilege, not a right.

We can’t have hormone-crazed teens speeding down our streets and running over innocent grade school kids. That would be crazy. We can, however, have hormone-crazed teens armed to the teeth shooting up our schools. Apparently, that is not so crazy.

Republicans will not tolerate any restrictions on our precious constitutional right to bear arms. Our precious constitutional right to vote is a different story. The GOP-dominated PA legislature and the Republican gubernatorial candidate stand four-square in favor of requiring valid government-issued photo ID to vote in the Keystone State. College or even work photo IDs don’t count. Oldsters or poor people relying on public transporation who don’t have drivers’ licenses are out of luck. College kids, pensioners, and poor people would probably vote for Democrats anyway.

Let’s restrict the right to vote, but, God forbid, let’s never make it harder for a mentally-unbalanced kid to buy assault weapons.

By Ed Dufton