LTE: The public protected in NRA permit move

January 14, 2009
Toledo Blade

A guest editorial from the Columbus Dispatch titled "Kowtowing to the NRA" accuses Ohio lawmakers of caving in to pressure from the NRA to not pass a proposal to raise the fee for obtaining a concealed carry permit by almost 22 percent.

In doing so, the editorial says the lawmakers have "failed to put the best interest of the taxpayers first." I strongly disagree.

In this time of ever-shrinking basic services from local municipalities and ever greater budget deficits, it seems to me that what our lawmakers have chosen to do is to not make it any more expensive than it already is to allow for law-abiding, civic- minded, responsible citizens to own and carry a personal protection weapon. With local police forces continuing to dwindle and crimes against taxpaying citizens continuing to climb, it is the well-trained, honest, and legally licensed "concealed carry citizen" who may end up filling the "protection gap" out there in the increasingly scary urban jungle we call home.

It already costs upwards of $200 just to obtain the required 10 hours of classroom instruction and testing, two hours of shooting range testing, and an FBI background checks, not to mention the cost to obtain a high-quality handgun and ammunition, and the two days you have to take to visit your local sheriff's office to request and retrieve your permit to carry.

The Columbus Dispatch and The Blade may call it "Kowtowing to the NRA," but I say, "thank you Ohio lawmakers."

This is one decision that I know was definitely in this taxpayer's best interest.

Mike McMahon
Robinwood Avenue

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