In a hushed but gruff tone, he [Nixon] told me he wanted me to call Assistant Attorney General Henry Petersen, because he wanted legal action taken against the demonstrator. When I asked the President if the demonstrator was throwing anything, he erupted, red-faced: “The little shit broke the police line. For all I know he was going to kill me. You tell Petersen to find a law he’s broken, and nail him.” Then, smacking a clenched right fist into his left hand, Nixon said, “Let’s make an example out of that goddamned jerk: prosecute his ass!”
When there are so many laws that daily living means you are a felon three times a day, those in power can prosecute you whenever they feel like it. Via Dealing With Aaron Swartz in the Nixonian Tradition: | John Dean | Verdict | Legal Analysis and Commentary from Justia.
Clearly that would never happen. And since that would never happen, we’d never need guns to protect ourselves from those in power who abuse their power.
And we’d never inter our own (Japanese) citizens at any point either.
Or, you know, confiscate gold from law-abiding citizens. Or whatever.