News Leader: "Library should allow petition"

I must admit I was pleasantly surprised this morning to read the editorial in the Staunton News Leader and see that they support the right of Francis Chester to place petitions to roll back assessments to 2005 values in the libraries:

... we applaud the residents who have banded together to fight this perceived injustice. The battle of the day appears to be whether or not this group, calling itself Augusta Citizens Against Unfair Assessments, should have the right to place a petition at the county library.

We agree. They should be able to place the petition in a county library. Debate is good. The people have a right under the First Amendment to petition their government for redress of grievances.

The libraries have a policy that no political petitions are allowed but the News Leader agrees that this is not a political petition but, rather, a petition of the people addressing an issue of interest to the community.

I think Benjamin Franklin would be proud.