Yes, Austin Petersen is giving away an AR-15.
Yes, Facebook gave him a temporary ban for it.
Yes, I'm a Freedom Ninja!

Can a private business, which is open to the public, discriminate?

To begin, let's clarify what the difference between a private business and a public business. A public business is any organization which is run by the government. A private business is any organization which is held by non-government interests. The confusion is because a private business can be open to offering transactions with a private membership or the general public. Offering their services or products to the general public does not magically switch a private business into a public business.

All government agencies should not be allowed to discriminate against individuals. The government uses force to obtain a monopoly on their services. Although there should be, there is no free market allowing individuals to obtain a driver's license from competing issuers.

All non-governmental businesses should be allowed to discriminate. The reason is simple. As free individuals, we should be allowed to choose who we associate with. That includes choosing who we do business transactions with.

Facebook can certainly disassociate itself from Austin Petersen or anyone else they choose.

What is freedom of association?

Freedom of association is an individual right. It's a natural law right in as much as it would take force to compel an individual to associate with another against their will. It's a negative right, meaning you don't have to take anything from another to provide for the right.

It's not a corporate right or a collective right, per se. A right can only be a collective right if all the members of the group claiming the right also have the right, individually. Since every individual at Facebook has the right to freedom of association, by extension, the corporation does as well. Corporations can not create rights for themselves which do not exist for the individuals who own the corporation.

Discrimination is going to happen. Let's shine some light on it.

Wouldn't you rather know who is acting like a bigot so you can avoid doing business with them? Would you rather that they hide it and you unknowingly support a racist?

Gary Johnson got it wrong. Austin Petersen has it right.

Gary Johnson exploded Libertarian minds when he famously said private business should be forced to bake cakes. You may hate bigotry. You should also hate racism. You can hate that kind of discrimination and still support the right of free association. The problem with Gary Johnson is that he wanted to use government force to solve a social issue and violate the freedom of association of individuals.

Bonus Content!

Austin Petersen just released an open letter to Facebook regarding this issue! You have to watch this!

My name is Rich and I'm a Libertarian.

You can find me on the Libertarian Chat Channel and now on the Discord Unmentionables server. I'm working on a production called the LIS, or Libertarian Interview Series. It's going to be a series of written format interviews with the top Libertarians and Anarchists on Steemit. If you would like to be a part of it, either to be interviewed or offer help, just message me here.