Gun owners have gone ballistic, pun intended, over the Journal News publishing the names and addresses of handgun permit holders in two New York counties in December. Reaction has been so violent, it is apparent that the only thing gun extremists love more than the Second Amendment is an anonymous Second Amendment in which ownership is hidden and documents are sealed.
But there are several contradictions. First of all, these proud but anonymous people are asking for protection from the same jackbooted government thugs whom they fear will grab their guns and against whom some are actually stockpiled. Why don't they make up their mind? Is the government a friend or enemy or does it just depend?
Secondly, these are the same people who declare no one would put a sign in front of their home saying NO GUN and they are now fearing the opposite. Do criminals target homes because they believe the home has no firearms or because they believe the home does? Or, again, does it just depend?
Third, these are the same people who dispute that more firearms mean more gun crimes and more armed criminals. They now admit the opposite and say criminals will steal their firearms when they are not at home if they know they have them. It doesn't sound like the firearms keep them or society safe at all -- unless the government they hate protects their identity.
Finally, the proud and loud gun owners always say they are the "good guys" protecting the world against the "bad guys." But Journal News employees have received death threats, threats against their children and packets of white powder in the mail. Doesn't sound like the good guys are good guys at all. Plus, they are armed.