Monday letters: Anti-journalist bill is wrong approach

If you wonder why there are angry voices within the Republican Party, look no further than GOP Rep. Mike Pitts,who filed a bill Tuesday to establish a “responsible journalism registry” operated by the S.C. secretary of state. His rationale seems to be his outrage over mainstream media’s demonization of gun owners.

If Mr. Pitts is outraged at how gun haters in the media malign gun owners, he shouldn’t restrict media coverage with more laws. That is the sort of thing progressive Democrats do. Republicans should be pushing for fewer laws and more open dialog. He should be pushing for more coverage of gun owners and who they really are.

His actions serve only to infuriate those of us who truly care about freedom and liberty. I want more independent journalists, not fewer. I want more freedom, not more restrictions. I do not want to have to “register” to speak my mind, just as I do not want to have to “register” to own my guns.

Don’t tread on me.

This story was originally published January 25, 2016 at 3:44 AM.