A few weeks ago the Columbus Dispatch's Glenn Sheller wrote a column Conceal-carry OK, permit secrecy isn’t that played both sides of the fence.  The author didn't find anything wrong with concealed carry, but he isn't going to get a license.  The author is, obviously, opposed to the rights of law-abiding gun owners who want nothing more than to exercise their right to carry a firearm for self-defense without being scrutinized like sexual predators.

In an effort to set the record straight I wrote a letter to the Columbus Dispatch and despite its length and aggressive approach, it was printed this past Saturday.  You can read it here: Gun-owners list used for intimidation

The Middletown Journal did something very similar on March 17th, when they published an editorial blaming "The Republicans" as a whole for amending House Bill 9 to fix the journalist loophole.  We covered that editorial here: Middletown Journal Editorial: Bad GOP. Bad. The actual March 17th editorial can be found on the Middletown Journal's Website. 

I wrote them a letter to the editors as well, re-using some of the language in the letter I sent to the Columbus Dispatch: Concealed carry isn’t just a conservative issue

In the spirit of following up on letters to the editor we've let slip by, here is one from the Cleveland Plain Dealer last Friday, where Dave Leeds makes some excellent points about publishing the names of license holders:  Publishing gun lists serves no useful aim

From the letter:

I fail to understand what good reason there is to publish the names of those who have obtained concealed-carry gun permits, except to harass them. What use is it? Will people print these lists and go ask everyone they meet, "Are you on this?"

A woman seeking to escape from a battering spouse usually would rather he think her dead than still living in the state, much less the county. A job applicant doesn't need any more reasons to be rejected as a potential hire simply for complying with the law.

Leeds was responding to this March 19th editorial:  A misfire on open-records bill where the Cleveland Plain Dealer was complaining about the amendments to HB9 that deal with journalist access to license holders.

Kudos to Mr. Leeds for being published and making such a great point in such a short letter.