Letter: Automatic printing presses should not be allowed

The First Amendment was enacted in 1789. As most readers know, it states:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Printing presses in the era of 1789 were operated by hand presses. To reload after one page was printed required in excess of one minute. The framers of the First Amendment had no concept of the development of the modern automated printing press which allows full automatic newspaper printing at the rate of one page per second.

Every member of the press should have to obtain a government license, after passing a background check, prior to publishing any news or opinion.

Remember, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” The pen has caused the death of more people than guns. Think Karl Marx’s Das Capital or Mao’s Little Red Book, just to name a couple.

If we can save one child from dissemination of dangerous and unusual news stories, it will be worth it. Freedom of the press should be subject to common sense regulation.

This story was originally published July 1, 2016 at 11:48 AM with the headline "Letter: Automatic printing presses should not be allowed."