What does define a political position is the extent to which one interprets this individual right.
As a conservative, I say that society has a right to place reasonable restrictions on individual rights for the good of society. As a conservative, I am comfortable with my previous definition of "arms" and who may or may not restrict them. A conservative does not define his position as one of championing individual rights and individual liberties over the good of society.
A libertarian would place individual rights, individual liberties above all else. Carrying an M249 SAW around while shopping at the local grocery store, why not?
As long as one's constitutionally protected rights are not being violated, I believe that they may be tempered by society.
(Keep in mind that the 2nd Amendment only applies to the federal government. If a state wishes to restrict or ban guns, and it is allowed by the state constitution, it may do so.)
Oddly enough, doing this is completely legal in my state.
That's not true, because a communist would read "the right of the people" to mean the right of the people as a collective, not the right of people as individuals. Therefore, vis-a-vis a person's relationship with his or her government, this---interpretation of what constitutes individual rights---most definitely defines a political position.
As a conservative, I say that society has a right to place reasonable restrictions on individual rights for the good of society.
Society does not have rights. An individual has rights. The Bill of Rights applies to people, not to an American society.
As a conservative, I am comfortable with my previous definition of "arms" and who may or may not restrict them. A conservative does not define his position as one of championing individual rights and individual liberties over the good of society.
Obviously. That's why I asked you: "What's an appropriate metric for determining how much influence the government (any kind, federal, state, or local) may have on our personal lives? Where do you draw the line between public and private behavior?"
As long as one's constitutionally protected rights are not being violated, I believe that they may be tempered by society.
So rights are something granted by the government?
(Keep in mind that the 2nd Amendment only applies to the federal government. If a state wishes to restrict or ban guns, and it is allowed by the state constitution, it may do so.)
Really, even ban? Even given the 14th Amendment?