I'm so used to breaking the law, I really never notice. If you have to wait for the gubmint to give you permission to be free, you're in for a long wait pretty much anywhere. As far as nannystatism goes, I think it comes with the population density. Personally, I don't think I'm living any differently than I would anywhere else.
Has there been a change recently where your gov't has given it's subjects the right to defend themselves.