Should a private business be able to refuse service to a customer based on the

owners beliefs?
Kaitlyn Dunn
Part 1:
This issue of the right to deny service usually has a clear answer for most since it depends on the
value a person puts on liberty and equality and the affiliation with one or the other makes this issue a hot
topic. Personally Im inclined to side with liberty but with the roles reversed im not sure if I would want
to experience discrimination to that degree. That being said I believe the business owner has more value
and leverage then the customer in this situation and my experience with business ideals makes me
inclined to agree with the statement.
The Anti Religious Freedom Act violates the first amendment but at what point does the right to
freedom of speech violate a person's right to the pursuit of happiness? That is where the issue becomes
grey to me and there is no distinct line one can draw where happiness is compromised. Personally this is
why I agree with the rights of the business owner since the line is easily drawn. My brain is very logical
and mathematical so I am inclined to agree with the side that is more black and white. If the owner can
deny someone for any reason there is a clear right and wrong but if they can only deny service on certain
non offensive things it makes the issue blurry.
After studying the different moral philosophies in my Humanities class, which included
(utilitarianism, egalitarianism, libertarianism, deontology, and justice as fairness) I was very clearly
libertarian and sided with Gary Johnson on most political and social issues. True libertarians would
believe in the rights of freedom over equality which may have persuaded my beliefs to some extent.
Although when taking a stance on this issue I would say I am fairly neutral but lean towards the
agree side. The issue has so many layers that fall into a slippery slope. I value liberty but also would never
want to live in a world where hate and discrimination became the norm. I think there is a line that cant be
drawn between discrimination and freedom of speech which makes it such a hard topic. Personally I have
never been denied service but being in a situation of such extreme discrimination I might change my
mind.
These days it becomes very hard to appease everyone and I see people constantly censoring
themselves to appeal to the needs of the minority. To an extent this creates equality among people who
normally experience discrimination but I think it has gone too far. Every sentence and claim a person
makes has to be very carefully thought out to not offend anyone which takes away the liberation and
creativity of speaking truly freely. Although I am conflicted since it creates a world of equality, something
I find very progressive and thoughtful.