Dear Editor,
  I, for one, am thankful that the Good Lord has blessed our Ohio Republican legislators with an ounce or two of God-given common sense. I am referring, of course, to our right-of-center lawmakers' efforts to further relax gun laws here in Ohio. (Proposals would ease more gun restrictions.)
  After all, what is more important here in Ohio, in the 21st century, than the question of packing heat in public? Unemployment, the loss of Ohio manufacturing jobs, the growing disparity between rich and poor, the crumbling infrastructure? Please. All of these pale into insignificance when compared with the question of- can I pack a .357 magnum without a permit into my chosen house of worship? Can I bring big heat to the Little Tots Daycare Center? Can I study philosophy at OSU while maintaining my ability to blow away half of the classroom, if they, say, disagree with me regarding how many angels can dance on a pinhead? These are deep questions and deserve our legislators single-minded attention. Kudos to Ohio's Republican leadership for maintaining their laser-like focus on this pressing issue.
  Because really, what's wrong with bringing say, a Colt .45 semi-automatic pistol into a drowsy, dusty old Sunday worship service? And why do I need a permit to do so? Hey! Take a look around- this is a dangerous world. I can multi-task- I can say the Lord's Prayer and keep an eye out for any trouble in the congregation at the same time. And remember- I'm not looking for trouble. I'm there to worship God. And to blow away any sinner who dares to mess with my religion and my God!
  In conclusion, I can only hope that our God-fearing Republican lawmakers will carry on the good fight with this monumentally important issue. Because don't forget- two year old toddlers at a day care center can get out-of-control. And there's nothing like a little cold-blue gunmetal to restore order.
 

Thad Woodman, Westerville