An Oddity of Geography and Legality
On the border between the states of Washington and Idaho, way up north near Canada, there is a short stretch of Idaho State Highway 41 that runs right along the border. In fact, for the northernmost 1/2 mile, the southbound lane is actually Washington State Route 41. This length of road is also State Street between Newport, Washington and Oldtown, Idaho.
Look up the coordinates 48°11"N 117°02'22"W on your preferred mapping program for reference, or examine the Google Earth screenshot below. The large white roof to the west of State Street is a grocery store. The brown roof by the pin is a sporting goods store.
With that in mind, consider the following odd situation:
An Idaho resident can legally purchase a handgun, ammunition, and concealment holster in that sporting goods store. If the shop owner approves, he can then load and conceal that handgun without any government permission. He can legally travel almost anywhere in Idaho with that handgun. Meanwhile, a Washington resident could legally smoke a marijuana cigarette in the parking lot of that grocery store across the street.
But should they each cross the street, not only would they be "jaywalking," but the pot smoker would be "guilty" of a misdemeanor or felony depending on the quantity he carries, and the gun owner would be "guilty" of violating Washington firearm laws by carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.
Never mind that these two towns are the same community for all intents and purposes. Without the line on the map, how could you tell which law applies where? And what crime did either one of these people commit? Who is the victim whose rights to life, liberty, or property would be violated? The only apparent victims by any rational measure are these two hypothetical people should they be accosted by a quisling cop.
I leave it to the reader to draw the rational conclusion about the legitimacy of legality as a measure of morality, and the moral status of criminal charges.
