“For that analogy to work, you’d have to equate illegal drug trafficking with what was at the time legal slavery or legal secession. I don’t see the similarity”
How about rebellion, which is the literally what EP offers as justification. Is that illegal enough for you? Oh, wait, I forgot, the feds were the ones acting illegally, since they started it, despite the South shooting first. [ahem!]
"Illegal?" Actually, I can't seem to locate a single clause in the antebellum Constitution that prohibited State secession (quite the opposite in fact). But feel free to quote the article, section and clause to which you are referring...
;>)
Oh, wait, I forgot, the feds were the ones acting illegally, since they started it, despite the South shooting first. [ahem!]
"Oh, boy. You’re not that obtuse, are you?" Are you not aware that who shoots first does not necessarily determine the legality of an action? Theoretically speaking, under certain circumstances, if federal law enforcement officers entered my home without proper legal authorization, I would not be at fault if I opened fire. (Not that I would ever do that - I wouldn't want to be killed instantly, even if my actions were justified posthumously by a federal court! ;>)