Meaning literally The consequences of abuse do not apply to general use.

Sometimes used by legal specialists and lawyers, it basically means that a right should not be withheld simply because a few jerks are abusing it. For example, even if some idiots use their precious guns to shoot people in the back, the Americans in general still have the right to bear arms.

Another example, because I wouldn't want to appear flippant to gun nuts, would be people trying to legislate the use of MySpace and similar websites because a small fraction of the users use it to do bad things (stalking, cyber-bullying, etc.)

Yet another example, suggested by Appolyon this time, is used by the Big Tobacco companies to suggest that cigarettes should not be banned because a certain percentage of users abuse them and get cancer and die. Those rogue smokers should not prevent people who use cigarettes as room odorizers or mosquito repellent to buy them.