One of the great paradoxes of American life is that of the nations self-image as the "land of the free" and the reality of living in one of world's more tightly regulated societies. If John Wayne were to stroll down certain Main Streets at noon today, he would not just risk being arrested for jay-walking and carrying an exposed weapon; he might also face charges for smoking tobacco in the saloon the previous evening, or lighting a bonfire in his own back garden. And quite right, too. Sensible regulation has become an integral part of the American way of life.
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