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Flagstaff, Arizona, like many communities, sells advertising at a public facility -- its airport.
The municipality is considering abandoning the extra source of revenue, however, because Rob Wilson, owner of Timberline Firearms and Training, wants to advertise his gun shop on the airport's placards.
Flagstaff, as reported by Reason, wants to reject the advertising. It initially tried to cite a new policy on advertising that depicts guns. No such policy actually exists, though.
"It quickly became clear that Flagstaff's city government didn't want Wilson's business, or gun-related businesses in general, advertising at its facilities and was scrambling to come up with a justification," according to Reason.
That reluctance, however, runs contrary to the First Amendment and to court decisions regarding exactly this type of situation.
If a public entity allows advertising on public property, it must strive to be neutral and to avoid attempts to police the content of the advertising in a biased manner.
Flagstaff officials need to accept that gun owners and Americans who value the Second Amendment are entitled to equal treatment.
Public officials further should recognize that concerns about invasive government overreach and a belief that private gun ownership is one bulwark against that invasiveness and overreach are only strengthened in such situations.
It's time to rethink this decision -- and move forward in a way that respects our rule of law.