Crimes are those acts by which one man harms the person or property of another. Vices are simply the errors which a man makes in his search after his own happiness. Unlike crimes, they imply no malice toward others, and no interference with their persons or property. In vices, the very essence of crime --- that is, the design to injure the person or property of another --- is wanting. It is a maxim of the law that there can be no crime without a criminal intent; that is, without the intent to invade the person or property of another. But no one ever practises a vice with any such criminal intent. He practises his vice for his own happiness solely, and not from any malice toward others. - Lysander Spooner ANY law that seeks to punish vice conflicts with the natural law (i.e., the law of nature and of natures God) and is therefore immoral and must be rejected.
Posted on: Wed, 04 Jun 2014 01:56:05 +0000