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New gun owners show they’ve earned privilege
The Gazette Opinion Staff
Jan. 7, 2012 11:35 pm
Congratulations to all the Iowa citizens who chose to exercise their right to carry weapons. Last year, a new state law gave us the right to submit a request for and receive a carry permit. County sheriffs could no longer deny the permit unless the applicant could not pass a background check.
In Linn County alone, 5,473 new permits were issued between Jan. 1 and Dec. 12, 2011. Of those, only 37 were issued to professional applicants. There were 20 denials.
I offer my congratulations because we now have the right to carry for self-protection and have exercised that right. We have shown the knowledge, intelligence and restraint needed to keep this privilege available in the future.
John Nieland
Marion
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