Hacker News Reader

Comment by ClumsyPilot | Hacker News Reader

> think if people want to mess around with homemade explosives, and they have enough land to do so, then that's their business.

Do you also believe you should not need a driving license, or an electrician should not have any certification?

Because an average person can watch a YouTube video and wire a circuit, or learn to drive by themselves, but their chances of making explosives without posing a danger for themselves or others are far, far lower.

This should be a licensed activity where you need to demonstrate at least basic competence and mental stability.

View on HN

A drivers license on your own land - no. Adding a circuit to your own house generally doesn't need a license but does need a permit. Driving without a license or doing electrical work without a license/permit usually isnt sending you to prison for years. Manufacturing explosives generally requires licenses and could otherwise result in years of prison. I'm not sure if the law works this way, but I would hope there are some exceptions for small quantities. I see plenty of stuff online about black powder manufacturing, which I think is cool as an insight into history. I'm sure it's dangerous, but in small quantities it's really only a danger to oneself. Honestly, I see that as less of a danger to others than reckless driving on a road or even electrical work after the house is sold.

Or to put it another way, the things we're regulating as a society should be an individual's ability to cause harm to others (either intentionally or unintentionally), as that deprives others of their freedom to live their own lives.

If an individual is endangering only themselves in a way that poses no risk to others (e.g. blowing up stumps on their own large property), then that's a responsibility they should be given.

Which does suggest stricter limits on higher density areas (read: cities), given the proximity of people and lack of empty, fuck-around space.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com