Editor:

The Casper Star-Tribune applauds the demise of a state gun rights bill and then preaches Wyoming should definitely comply with the feds (Aug. 31 editorial). Would the editorial staff rejoice if a pro freedom of the press proposal failed? They defend (their version of) the First Amendment but denigrate the Second.

Cale Case's proposal would have made it possible for non-felons convicted of past misdemeanor domestic violence to regain Second Amendment rights after a time.

Most of his opponents don't want domestic violence classed as felony for they know a man could get a jury trial more easily. I stressed man. So did the editorial, by a factor of "five times." I once believed the press advocated trial by jury.

Anti-gun people are mostly of the light-punishment persuasion, even for real violent perpetrators like rapists, ax murderers, or women who drown their kids. Constantly chanting, "forgiveness and rehabilitation," and, "they did their time," they see no injustice with a man -- even a reformed man -- eternally losing a constitutional, human right over a slap or shove. Maybe less.

Most anything is stretched to define abuse in today's courts and social services. The editors don't want "abusers'" records to ever get clean, especially if that restores gun rights. No anti-man or anti-gun bias here!

The BATF favoring, federal Judge Alan Johnson's pronouncements show he also couldn't care less about another constitutional precept: there shall be no ex post facto laws. The no-gun punishment for domestic abusers condemns and punishes for things which were not punishable, at least to that degree, before later rules were enacted.

Men who committed the misdemeanor of slapping their wives or relatives in the house before the anti-gun law was even written up for consideration cannot own a gun.

Communists killed, exiled, tortured, and jailed people for the "crime" of owning property or attending church, even though said sins were committed years before Marxist rule. That's what ex post facto means.

The CS-T asks what do I think, so here goes: Losing one's rights permanently for a misdemeanor, especially an ex post facto misdemeanor, is more than a slap on the wrist. It's more than a slap on the face.

MARIE BROSSMAN, Lander