North Carolina bans gay marriage/civil unions

You're talking in hypothetical scenarios. Second-hand smoke is something that doesn't affect anyone unless that person CHOOSES to be in the area of said smoke. The only argument to be made regarding this is children of parents who smoke, which is a tough situation because you can't exactly claim child abuse, yet it's it's still clearly bad for the child. That one, I will grant you.

As for the drunk driver scenario, I think this one is absurd. You're going with the assumption that every drunk person drives a car while intoxicated. That's not the case. Do SOME drunk people drive while intoxicated? Sure. Then again, some people also drive while texting, changing their radio, eating, doing their makeup, after getting in a heated argument with their spouse, while they are very tired, etc.

The act of BEING DRUNK does not affect other people. The act of driving a car into someone else DOES affect other people. The crime should be driving the car into someone -- not simply being drunk. Otherwise, as I said, it should be strictly illegal to do all the other things I mentioned in the paragraph above as well.

Not only that, but you're kind of proving my point by highlighting drugs which are legal already. I'm talking about drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, meth, ANYTHING.

Drugs by themselves do not harm other people other than the one consuming the drug. Actions taken AFTER taking drugs may harm other people, but those actions could be taken whether someone is on drugs or not... If a person is high and punches someone in the face, what is the real difference between that and them punching them in the face when they're stone cold sober? Nothing. The crime is the violence. And that violent crime should be VERY heavily punished.

The bottom line is individual responsibility. YOU are responsible for yourself. If you harm other people, you should be punished. If you are not harming other people, you should be left alone to do what you want to do to your own body.

I understand that gay marriage and drug usage aren't directly related, but it's the concept of individual freedom that needs to be considered here.

If something doesn't affect you or anyone else, then you have no right to stop another person from doing it. Period.

Marriage between same sexes is fine, but it doesn't have to be in a church. That's my only stance really. Religion should have no place in law making.

Agreed, but at the same time, I do believe that the small rural towns shouldn't be governed by the big cities, either. They should all govern themselves. The fact is, people in small rural towns have their farms, trucks, same people they see every day, lifestyle, etc. They are the type of people that just live life and want it a certain way, and to not change. People in urban areas are exposed to the arts, culture, new ideas and ways of thinking, and see new people every day on the subways and streets. Two totally different types of human beings. Unfortunately, people on the social/fiscal left also like to control people in unconstitutional ways, and can use federal force to force the whole country or state force to force a whole state to adopt to their ways of thinking. Things should be divided in a completely libertarian ways, county by county or even town by town and city by city. Libertarianism got it right.

I don't agree with him, but he didn't say anything inflammatory, or even anything disrespectful. He just politely shared his opinion on the subject. That's perfectly fine. He didn't troll, or even tell anyone they are wrong. He didn't say it didn't affect him, he said that it being banned did not bother him. That's it. Disagreeing with you doesn't make him a douchebag.

I'll get bashed for this, but that's fine. I think gay marriage should be legal. I also think it's sinful. Does that make me hypocritical? I dunno. I think the church has no place dictating policy to the state and vice versa. The state has no right to discriminate against anyone. The state marries people all the time who's marriages are not acknowledged or recognized by the church and vice versa. No one objects to that. What difference does it make if the state continues to marry people who's marriages are not going to be recognized by the church? Ok. Bash away now.

So many things wrong here, but I'll just let it slide just this once.

As for gay marriage, Homosexuals will never get a fair shake in society.

I don't think you should be bashed, that was the most honest religious point of view. According to the bible, homosexuality is a sin. In todays society, religion and the bible are not nearly as prevalent as it once was. They're making great strides and acceptance of same sex relationships is bigger now than it has ever been. It was a taboo for a long time, things like this time. Our generation can make that change.

The actual act of marriage has nothing to do with religion. Only people who believe religion should control everything believe that marriage is a religious act. The majority of people DON'T get married in churches or any religious venues.

And as far as voting on the issue....why should straight people even get a vote on an issue that relates to gay people. I'm straight and it's none of my business what gay people do, just like I feel I have no right to vote on any issues that relate to abortion or women's rights.

My girlfriend and I are going to get married in little over a year, and you know what? There won't be one damn religious thing to do with it. It won't be at a church, there will be no priest nor will there be any mention of God at all. Anything can be religious if you force it to be, but marriage is not inherently a religious institution.

People are sticking their noses into issues that don't affect them, and the same people who use their bible to prevent gay Americans from having equal rights are the same people looking the other way every time a priest molests a young boy. So we can add hypocrisy to the list as well as ignorance.

I agree. As Americans we love to pat ourselves on the back because after HUNDREDS OF YEARS we finally agreed to just treat black people badly instead of as property.....people who try and make themselves sound so self righteous with their religious reasoning as why gay people shouldn't get married might as well just go and say "back of the bus, homo", because that's what they really mean.

I'd love to know how this issue is dealt with in other countries and if they are is ignorant as we are here in America.