We must resist a future where the government is incapable of or unwilling to carry out its essential duties, yet has the time to target citizens for adopting animals, like squirrels, or even participating in adult entertainment.

In his warning about totalitarianism, George Orwell infamously said (emphasis mine):

But always – do not forget this, Winston – always there will be the intoxication of power, constantly increasing and constantly growing subtler. Always, at every moment, there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless. If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face – for ever.

The untimely demise of Peanut and Fred should serve as a wake-up call to all reasonable Americans, urging us to take action against the out-of-control bureaucracies running government agencies. Children are harassed for trying to sell lemonade, parents risk arrest for allowing their kids to walk to the store for a donut, and I’m prohibited from shooting wild animals on my own property.

What happened to Mark Longo and his animals is the future we must resist—a future where the state is too incompetent to handle its fundamental duties, yet finds the time to persecute citizens for welcoming woodland creatures into their homes. What happened to Peanut is a reminder that we are up against governments that have lost sight of who’s in charge. But that doesn’t mean we can’t stand firm, hold on to our acorns, and declare, Sic semper tyrannis.