Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Globe editorial urges Nixon to veto gun legislation

Last week, I criticized the Joplin Globe Editorial Board for avoiding taking stands on difficult local issues while writing editorials about subjects such as South African leader Nelson Mandela.

In Tuesday's edition, the Globe took a stance on a Missouri issue, urging Gov. Jay Nixon to veto HB 436, which calls for Missouri to ignore all federal gun laws.

The idea that Missouri can defy the federal government and pick and choose what laws it decides to uphold is ludicrous, but the Globe Editorial Board appears to have no problem with that part of that bill.

The part that the Globe opposes, correctly, is the part that makes it a crime to publish any information identifying someone as a gun owner:

Certainly that it would make it difficult for any newspaper to publish a story about a crime in which a gun had been fired or even a feature about hunting. It also leaves in limbo how an auctioneer might post an auction bill in which guns are part of the sale. And for that matter, how about law enforcement officers?

All good points, but it does seem interesting that when a First Amendment issue comes up that affects the Globe, the Editorial Board jumps on its white horse and charges. It wasn't that long ago when the Globe greeted another First Amendment issue, former Missouri Southern State University President's Bruce Speck's efforts to intimidate and silence the campus newspaper, the Chart, with a stony silence.

It appears that it takes self-interest rather than a firm belief in the First Amendment to stir the Globe to action.

What would really take guts is for the Globe to take a stance on the rest of this ridiculous bill.

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