On the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

Last evening I spoke with a very conservative friend, and I started probing his strong views on knife and gun control.

Knives and guns don't kill people, I was told, people kill people.

So, I said, then tactical nuclear weapons don't kill people, people kill people. But surely you are against the private ownership of tactical nuclear weapons?

Not in principle, he said. Indeed, not at all.

And you believe in property rights, of course, I asked. Indeed, he said. So if a government destroys or confiscates your property, I asked, you should be compensated? Yes, he said.

So if Osama or any other person owned their own tactical nuclear weapon then, in principle, they should be compensated if a Western government destroyed or removed that weapon?

Only if they were a US citizen, he responded.

Oh, I said, I can see where you are coming from...