A Law Too Far, Part 2

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” — Mark 12:17

Deadly incidents like those described in the previous article are obvious examples of government evil. But what of the ones where people don’t die, but the unjust use of government authority hurts a citizen’s right to live free, such as the unjust regulations that create artificial barriers to job entry or dictate how one can use his own property?

Government overreach, Part 2

There are currently fourteen states that regulate African hair braiding (which doesn’t use any dangerous chemicals, dyes or coloring agents and do not cut hair) by requiring schooling and licenses in order to work, interfering with a person’s right to earn a living.

North Carolina has a law requiring state approval of a “certificate of need” MRI machines, essentially creating a hospital monopoly over the purchase and use of the equipment. At one time, 49 states had such laws, with only 14 of them being repealed in the decades since their introduction in the 1940s.

Other governments restrict how homeowners can use rainwater collected on their private property…or even IF they can collect rainwater for personal use.

And during the Coronavirus pandemic, there have been no shortage of displays of the unjust use of power.

Using emergency powers to violate rights

Police in Greenville, MS, ticketed people attending a drive-in church service…in their own cars. One office was recorded saying, “When you get an order from the government, your rights are suspended.”  The church has decided to sue the police department for violating the First Amendment, since the suspension of rights because of a local government ‘order’ isn’t how our Constitution works.

Philadelphia police dragged a man from a bus because the man wasn’t wearing a mask…a mandate that was both short-lived and legally questionable. Wouldn’t it have been easier to just give him a mask and ask him to wear it?

Laredo, TX, police, as part of a COVID-19 task force enforcement detail, conducted an undercover sting and arrested two women for operating beauty salons out of their homes.

An official-sounding “Anti-COVID-19 Volunteer Drone Task Force” drone was recorded flying over a park in Manhattan, telling people to maintain proper social distance, including a Robocop-esque “Thank you for your cooperation” message. It turns out it was a private citizen taking matters into his own hands and the FAA is investigating. 

But local agencies have been offered donations from drone manufacturers, including units that can remotely detect heat/temperature via FLIR technology, taking our already Orwellian surveillance state to new heights. These and others can be seen in this montage of government overreach. 

A Republic, if you can keep it

Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong said, “Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun,” and all of us need to understand that every law, rule, and regulation ultimately is enforced by government agents with guns.

So how do you resist evil when you come across it?

• The soap box. Speaking out, asking the tough questions of politicians to hold them accountable. 
• The ballot box. Use the truth to effect change in those who claim to represent us. 
• The cartridge box. The last option of free men, the arms and armor of our countrymen represented the just use of force that created our great nation. 
  

The number and scope of government overreaches can fill volumes. But we must be vigilant for this abuse, and resist it wherever we find it.