Regulated ↔ Unregulated: Choosing the Freer Path
Regulated ↔ Unregulated: Choosing the Freer Path
This isn’t an argument against rules.
And it isn’t a political statement.
It’s an observation about how much friction different choices add to your life — and how often people unknowingly choose the most regulated path possible.
Living unencumbered doesn’t mean avoiding responsibility.
It means choosing systems that require less permission, less oversight, and less dependence to function well.
What “Unregulated” Actually Means
Unregulated doesn’t mean illegal.
It doesn’t mean reckless.
It doesn’t mean ignoring laws.
It means choosing tools, skills, and environments that:
require fewer licenses
have fewer gatekeepers
depend less on institutions
break fewer rules by existing
Unregulated systems are lighter to live inside.
Tools: Less Regulated Doesn’t Mean Less Capable
One of the clearest examples is air guns.
BB guns and pellet guns are:
widely available
inexpensive
legal in many places
capable of hunting
extremely accurate
dramatically improved in recent years
They don’t involve:
gunpowder
the same regulatory burden
the same storage and transport issues
They are an excellent example of a powerful, low-friction tool that most people overlook.
The same goes for:
slingshots
bows
archery equipment
These tools:
require skill
encourage discipline
are quiet
are far less regulated
are still very effective
Unregulated doesn’t mean weak.
It often means elegant.
Mobility: Bicycles and Electric Bicycles
Another perfect example is the bicycle.
A regular bicycle:
requires no license
no registration
no insurance
minimal maintenance
zero fuel
Electric bicycles add:
range
speed
accessibility
load-carrying ability
They are lightly regulated in most places — usually by speed class — and if you’re conscientious with the throttle, they are extremely hard to get into trouble with.
Compare that to:
cars
trucks
insurance
inspections
fuel costs
traffic laws
parking rules
Bicycles and e-bikes represent unregulated mobility at its best.
Hunting, Fishing, and Protein Reality
Not all food acquisition is regulated equally.
Fishing is generally:
less regulated than hunting
more accessible
more consistent
easier to depend on
lower barrier to entry
Hunting varies widely:
some species heavily regulated
some invasive species far less regulated
some animals can be taken with minimal restrictions depending on location
Understanding what is regulated, where, and why allows you to plan realistically.
Fishing, in particular, is one of the most overlooked protein sources in modern life — and one of the most practical.
Public Land: A Gradient of Regulation
Not all land is equal.
There is a clear spectrum:
BLM land – least regulated
National Forest – lightly regulated
State Parks – more rules
National Parks – heavily regulated
Each step up the ladder adds:
more restrictions
more oversight
more people
more rules
more enforcement
Learning to operate comfortably in less regulated land gives you access to millions — even billions — of acres.
That’s real freedom.
Ownership vs Movement
I’ve owned land — a hundred-acre ranch.
It was incredible.
But there’s a tradeoff people don’t talk about:
you become anchored
you’re tied to one place
you carry fixed responsibilities
you lose flexibility
Living on public land flips that equation.
You don’t have the same security — but you gain:
massive geographic freedom
adaptability
reduced overhead
fewer permanent obligations
Yes, you move periodically.
Every two weeks is typical.
A month is often possible if you’re doing things well.
Movement isn’t a burden — it’s a system.
The Most Unregulated Choice of All: Fewer People
This is uncomfortable for some to hear, but it’s true:
The more people you’re around, the more regulated your life becomes.
People bring:
rules
liability
expectations
conflict
noise
enforcement
social pressure
Distance from society isn’t antisocial — it’s low-friction living.
Solitude reduces regulation naturally.
Why This Matters
Highly regulated systems:
outsource responsibility
remove skill
create dependency
punish deviation
feel “safe” but brittle
Less regulated systems:
require competence
reward learning
encourage responsibility
increase adaptability
reduce stress
Unregulated living isn’t about rebellion.
It’s about choosing the lighter path.
The Real Insight
When everything is regulated, people stop knowing how things work.
When systems become simpler:
skills return
confidence increases
dependence decreases
That’s not political.
That’s mechanical.
Closing Thought
Living unencumbered isn’t about rejecting modern life.
It’s about choosing where regulation is useful — and where it’s just weight.
The tools you choose.
The land you use.
The way you move.
The number of people you’re around.
All of it shapes how free your life feels.
Freedom isn’t an abstract idea.
It’s the absence of unnecessary friction.