Cant write to /etc

[David L]

I have just been tring to use sms_client and it gives me an error that it cant 
write to /etc.
 When I try to # touch /etc/smslock

it gives me 

# touch: /etc/smslock: Read-only file system

It wont even let me edit rc.conf

I had a look at the permisions of /etc and they are fine

drwxr-xr-x

The only thing I can think of is that I recently set up loader.conf in order 
to be able to load the module for my audigy card. So I had a look through 
loader.conf and it doesnt have anything about loader.conf


Can anyone help ?

Thanks

David