Right vs. Power
David Hume, a philosopher, pointed out a long time ago that one cannot derive an "ought" from an "is". A parallel (that means similar point) today is that rights (legitimate claims, things that "ought" to be) and power (ability, what "is") are distinct.
If a statist assumes and asserts rights are always aligned with power, then they justify the mugger and any other criminal (he has the power to take, so he now has the right and is the owner of your wallet); so you rather assume too much in your effort to justify the state.
Now, keep on following, because here it gets interesting. Sometimes, right and power are aligned—you have the right to do something, like bear arms, and you have the power to do it and no evil person will try to stop you. And sometimes you have neither the right nor the power to do something (you may want to kill someone that has done you no harm, but is making you look like an idiot by refuting your assertions with reason, but you can't). This is also good and right, because right and power are aligned.
Where we have trouble is where a person has the right to do something, but not the power, or the power to do something, but not the right. Let us illustrate with examples. Since slavery seems to be the topic du jour, then understand that while slaves had the right (legitimate claim) to liberty, they did not have the power to exercise that right: superior force was used against them.
For an example of the opposite, where power exists but not right, consider a mugger that robs someone of their wallet. They have the power to take the wallet, but not the right to do so. (Some ignorantly say that "might makes right"; but it does not; those people do not understand that right and power are different, and that one does not imply the other.) (DBR)
What Use Are Rights?
A stronger person may infringe a right, but never take it away. A chained slave retains the right to be free; and if an opportunity (or help) arises, would be moral to take it.
The general idea is due to Hume and his is-ought problem; rights are an "ought", power is an "is"; and all of what "is" cannot justify what "ought" to be.
And similarly, what "ought" to be does not change what "is"; although a person may use an argument about what should be to convince others; hence the main use for rights is not protection (they are not armor) but communication, persuasion, and education. (DBR)
Get Real!
Now, you can point out what does exist ("is"), and I will agree, and you can say that it is reality, and of course, it is; but when you stray into the sphere of "ought", we have left reality behind—which is neither immoral nor fattening—and are in a different sphere. When you move into saying that cops ought to do harm because they ought to follow orders, for instance, you aren't talking about what is any more, but what should be. And at that point, you can no longer scurry away behind a defense of "Reality!, help and oh noes, people are talking about what should be!" because you left that sphere yourself. (DBR)
Also see:
Natural Law, Rights Come From.
What are General Moral Rights? Spoiler: A right is a moral claim to freedom of action.