NRA's balls are outgrowing its musket

As a member of the National Rifle Association for many many years, I've spent many many dollars in defense of this country's Second Amendment. When you think about it, that is incredibly wasteful thing to have to do, considering the stupidity of anyone who questions The Second Amendment or tries to circumvent it.

It has been - and still is - necessary because there are multitudes of morons who don't "believe in it," many of whom are ensconced as journalists; morons who will destroy it if guys like me don't shell out to protect it. That's how stupid this country has become.

Likely the Second Amendment's existence depends on the NRA and it owes practically nothing to journalists. But that's no excuse for the NRA's attack on the First Amendment.

At issue is the absurd NRA-backed law passed by the Ohio legislature that gives concealed-carry licensees an exemption to the open records requirement based in the constitution.

Why these people are ashamed of their status as being licensed to carry a gun is totally beyond me. If they are that ashamed of it, then why don't they give it up? I hope to become qualified for one of these permits and I don't care who knows it. Even if I did understand their concern, it wouldn't matter to the case in point.

As explained in a recent Advocate editorial, the Ohio law allows only journalists, not just any citizen, the right to look at records of concealed-carry permits.

As the Advocate said, "when a journalist inspects the record of a concealed-carry permit holder, he can look at the information but not touch his pen, or press the 'record' button, to take notes." He has to memorize whatever he's after in those records, which would open the way for inaccuracies and little taste for publication of those memorized facts.

The Advocate says this law is unconstitutional and that's dead-on correct.

The NRA over-stepped its purpose and its scope in this matter and the legislature passed a law that is unconstitutional. It was totally unnecessary in protecting anything in the Second Amendment, and it's time for the Ohio legislators to put it right.

If they don't, the Advocate should put its money where its mouth is and force the issue in court.