[DiogenesLamp]

Natural rights constrain public officials. Any law in violation of natural rights gives the injured the moral right to disobey it. Not only the right to disobey, but the duty to disobey.

According to John Locke, we may go further. We have the right to punish "officials" who injure our natural rights.

[Alberta's Child]

Any law in violation of natural rights gives the injured the moral right to disobey it. Not only the right to disobey, but the duty to disobey.

I don't disagree with that, but I don't see the same moral imperative if the "injured" in a case involving a government is only injured by way of that person's status as an employee of the government (as opposed to a citizen under the legal authority of that government).

This is why I believe there is a tangible difference between a county clerk who refuses to sign a marriage certificate for a homosexual couple and private business owner who refuses to bake a cake for that same couple.