Hard to understand without your friends point, but my wife the lawyer often uses this phrase so I will give you a generic example and perhaps it can be applied to your situation.


Generic example: In America you have a right to be racist against black people. You can't go to jail just for being racist. However, your right to be racist does not allow you the right to deny a black person service at your restaurant because they are black. I.e. Your rights to be racist do not allow you to deny a person their civil rights.


Another example: You have a right to vocally oppose gay marriage or gun ownership. However, your right to oppose these things does not allow you the right to deny a gay couple a marriage license or EricC85 his new AR-15.


Unfortunately what I see is people thinking this phrase means they don't have to follow the law, which is not what it means.

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