“A citizen may not be required to offer ‘good and substantial reason’ why he should be permitted to exercise his rights. The right’s existence is all the reason he needs.”

U.S. District Court Judge Benson E. Legg, Wollard v. Sheridan, 2012.

This quote originally came to my attention back in March when the decision was handed down. The case surrounds the state of Maryland requiring a “good and substantial” reason before it would even consider issuing a person a concealed weapons permit.

This is one of the best legal statements that I’ve seen. Moreover, although it is relating directly to a RKBA case, it perfectly encapsulates the basic theory behind many of the libertarian positions. As human beings, we have natural rights. We do not require permission from the state to exercise those rights. When (if) the population starts retaking the freedoms surrendered by previous generations, this idea must be central. We don’t need permission from the state for our activities – the state needs permission from us for theirs.