Yet another letter to the editor taking soon-to-be Columbus mayoral candidate Michael Mental to task for throwing away $20 million dollars that the Columbus economy desperately needed.

Aug. 9, 2005
Columbus Dispatch

I was a little surprised and disappointed by the July 20 Dispatch editorial cartoon, depicting the National Rifle Association as a masked bandit with a gun pointed at the Columbus City Council.

As far as I can tell, the only thing the NRA has pointed at the council was a copy of the U.S. Constitution and a loaded checkbook. The council did manage to strangle the flow of $15 million to $20 million into the Columbus economy, but I don’t see what else it has accomplished in this case.

Joe Schechinger
Westerville

By Chad D. Baus

In a move reminiscent of John Kerry’s infamous Ohio goose shoot, at which a camo-clad Kerry proclaimed that he was "too lazy" to carry his bird off the hunting field, there are growing indications that gubernatorial-hopeful Betty Montgomery is trying to squeeze into her own camouflage pants suit as she makes her bid for the 2006 Republican gubernatorial primary.

It was only a few months ago that Montgomery was testing a strategy of being un-apologetic for her anti-gun views. In January of this year, when questioned at a Young Republicans meeting in Cincinnati about why she opposed the restoration of Ohioans’ constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense, Montgomery stated "I don't want to live in a country where everyone is packing heat. I thought it would make things more dangerous on our streets.....for our police. As Attorney General I have attended enough police funerals." At that same meeting, Montgomery also expressed her view that CHL-holders’ private information should be available to the media and public. In a February appearance in Columbus, Montgomery continued to express a fear of CHL-holders that she sources to the time she spent as a prosecutor, witnessing the "dastardly" crimes committed against law enforcement by criminals with guns.

There is growing evidence that comparing law-abiding Ohio gun owners to cop killers is having its effects, and even more indication that the Montgomery campaign has realized touting her anti-gun position is not a way to win votes.