It’s just a story about a lowly little squirrel—yet it seems to have spoken to millions of Americans who saw it as a microcosm of the government overreach in modern times.  

The quick summary: cool guy has a pet squirrel named Peanut—or P’Nut—and the little bad boy went viral on the internet. The state’s response? Swoop in with agents and kill the squirrel in the name of “public safety.”

Background: Government Overreach Run Amok: NY State Kills Peanut the Squirrel

HOT TAKES: Elon and Others Come Together for Peanut the Squirrel, Against Gov't Overreach

Government overreach in action https://t.co/ymK7HHN9sE

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 2, 2024

I admit it: I have a soft spot for the little guys and gals:

I know they're pests to some people.

But c'mon man, my little brazen mofo makes my day. He's a bad***.

RIP, Peanut 😓 pic.twitter.com/PolRZoC5B2

— Bob Hoge (@Bob_Hoge_CA) November 2, 2024

Now Peanut’s owner Mark Longo is speaking out, and it’s not clear that P’Nut was actually put down:

I just want to say thank you
for the bottom of my heart for all the
support yall have showed me and my wife. This is an absolute tragedy hope we can get justice.

Retweet this message to spread the word 🙏🏻

Big thanks to @elonmusk #Peanut #Justiceforpeanut pic.twitter.com/8UX3iARZLM

— Mark Longo (@marklongoonx) November 3, 2024

Hi everyone. I just wanted to update all of you, but I would first like to say how grateful I am for all of the love and support you guys have no idea how much you have gotten me through the day and a half of just torment and a nightmare. I can't believe what transpired yesterday. I'm going to leave the details out of it, but we have the understanding that the DDC will not tell us whether or not Peanut is alive or not so.  

I can't give you a definitive answer of whether or not he's still here with us. I hope we have an opportunity to take him back and continue this journey on starting a nonprofit in a squirrel's name, you know, starting this nonprofit has been a dream come true. Showing the life of a squirrel has been nothing but incredible and I can't thank you all for the love and support, so please continue to check the GoFundMe out. Please donate if you can. We have hired a legal team, so there's going to be a lot of expenses coming our way. So I just want to say thank you for everybody who signed petitions and emailed and called and and really supported us. Hopefully we could bring Peanut home, but I can't do it without you guys. 

So thank you so so much from the bottom of my heart. I love each and every one of you. Thank you for looking out for me and my family and the animals here at Peanut Freedom Farm. You know it. It means the world to me. So thank you and. I will keep you updated as we go along. 

As I said, it’s just a little story about a squirrel. Why it’s struck such a chord, though, is it’s emblematic of what so many feel—that government has extended its tentacles into every aspect of our lives. There was no legitimate reason to seize P’Nut—and possibly “euthanize” him—it just reeks of bureaucrats run amok.

I hope P’Nut is still with us and that he gets reunited with his owner, but my hopes are not high. Positive outcomes aren’t usually associated with power-drunk officials in well-paid government jobs.

That being said—go, P’Nut! I’m rooting for ya.