John Adams said, "Property must be secured, or liberty cannot exist." The Decalogue emphasized private property in "Thou shalt not steal." George Washington stated, "Private property and freedom are inseparable."
Private property was so important to our Founding Fathers that its principles were included in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The right to property is surmised in the owner's determination of land use, as long as its use does not "disturb the equal rights of another."
