Pubdate: Sat, 07 Nov 2009 Source: Albany Democrat-Herald (OR) Copyright: 2009 Lee Enterprises Contact: http://www.democratherald.com/forms/contact/letters_editor/ Website: http://www.democratherald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/7 Author: Hasso Hering Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) GUNS AND POT The sheriffs of Jackson and Washington counties have argued before the Oregon Court of Appeals that they should not have to give concealed handgun licenses to otherwise qualified citizens who hold medical marijuana cards. Their case is not convincing. They claim they are in a bind because of the federal law against marijuana, medical or otherwise. The sheriffs ought to remember who votes for them and who pays them - and it's NOT the federal government. Further, only recently the same sheriffs made the valid point - in regard to a proposed change in public records law, a change that failed to get through the 2009 legislature - that people often get those licenses because they have security concerns. Seems like of all the people in Oregon, medical pot permit holders may have more need of personal security and protection than most. Let's hope the court quickly confirms that the sheriffs have no grounds to withhold handgun licenses from the users of medical pot. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D