Tradeoffs. Without them, civilized life as we know it would be impossible. For instance: The state has granted you the privilege of driving a car on a public street. But that doesn’t mean you can drive in the oncoming traffic lane, or drive 155 mph, or ignore stop signs and red lights.

Another example: You have the right to have a pet at your home, but that doesn’t mean you can board a cow in your city apartment or raise a family of rattlesnakes on the front lawn. Most of us accept this sort of thing.

So why is it that when the subject of gun rights enters an equation, our legislators seem to banish the very concepts of tradeoffs, compromises and competing rights of society? No, sir. No, ma’am. The Second Amendment says we have a right to guns, and everything else is out the window.

A case in point is a measure to allow private citizens to bring guns onto school property as long as the weapons are locked in their vehicle and out of view. Seventy-four members of the Indiana House voted for this bill; presumably the majority of the Senate will follow suit. One searches for an explanation.

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