Don’t violate social contract

In response to the Feb. 24 letter by Kevin Kissinger entitled “Be vigilant about threats.” In this letter, Kevin claims that “people who recognize suspicious activity must enforce this with action.” This is utterly ridiculous when one looks at the social contract.

The social contract is a contract that is automatically agreed to at birth between the individual and their respective nation. This contract states that the individual forsakes some of his or her rights in return for security.

For example, in most nations the individual exchanges his or her right to murder for security from others murdering them (please note that rights are not the inalienable rights cited by John Locke and Thomas Jefferson). The idea the author brings forward is one that implies it is our job, as citizens, to enforce action. This violates the social contract; this expectation of citizens to be protectors.

Now, far be it from me to solve the problem of the recent gun violence increase, but I do know this: Expecting citizens to step up and protect us would require a government relinquishing more rights to us, and lord knows that isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

Kohlton Wilcox

Spokane