Amendments and Freedom

In a "better late than never" moment, the NRA (via SayUncle) calls out Jayne Lyn Stahl on her Opinion piece (of shit) Another Poster Child for the NRA (which I talked about here) and can still be found here)

The article was published by the Atlantic Free Press here. One reason for the outcry this time around was the Atlantic's use of an NRA symbol with a picture of the Wisconsin mass murderer in the middle.

However, now the symbol is gone and the article has been prefaced with an admonition/paranoid screed that starts out like this:

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: Read the First Amendment once again - it's one that you claim you defend with your guns.

I find it lame beyond belief when someone writes up something as objectionable as the article mentioned above, then invokes the First Amendment. I realize this is a "Publisher's Note", but what is it really? A bunch of whining sissies who got their nose bloodied and are running to mommy.

Just as the NRA bases its political activity on the principle that gun ownership is a civil liberty protected by the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights, The First Amendment to the United States Constitution (which prohibits the federal legislature from making laws that infringe the freedom of speech and infringe the freedom of the press) protects the right of Jayne Lyn Stahl to express her OPINION.

It also protects the rights of those who find her opinion silly, paranoid or downright odious to express their OPINION. Freedom, meet responsibility.

Some of you who have written in claim that NRA members are law abiding, etc but others, at the same time, have made some pretty serious threats via email - which negates the other claims completely.

No it doesn't, it just shows diversity of opinion. That's a good thing, right? You shouldn't be making faulty and inflexible generalizations. That would be stereotyping.

Furthermore, the image was not chosen and created by Stahl but rather the editorial team.

Then you all are a bunch of assholes.

Our publication is not USA-based and we reserve the right to print what we want (our laws protect Freedom of Speech as well)

Not USA based? I don't care. You can be from the second ring of Saturn for all I care. Print what you want? Sure thing, sunbeam. I write what I want as well. Unlike you, I'm man enough to take any criticism that comes my way because of it.

whether or not we fully agree with what has been published.

I'm sure you fully agreed with what was published. It fits your world view.

I'm not going to address the rest of the "publishers note" for two reasons. One, you're not from the USA, so your opinion of my country does not interest me in the least. Second, anyone who refers to an administration as a "plutocratic kleptocracy" isn't worth any more of my time. Get back to me after you start shaving.

On another note, I don't fault the NRA for being two weeks late to this dance. They have their own way of doing things.

Finally, anyone who threatened the life of Ms. Stahl via e-mail or any other means should be subject to all applicable laws. Killing someone for being stupid is against the law.

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