Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Fuzzy Feelings don't mean safe

Michael Barone: "When Florida passed its concealed-weapons law, I thought it was a terrible idea. People would start shooting each other over traffic altercations; parking lots would turn into shooting galleries. Not so, it turned out. Only a very, very few concealed-weapons permits have been revoked. There are only rare incidents in which people with concealed-weapons permits have used them unlawfully. Ordinary law-abiding people, it turns out, are pretty trustworthy.
...
Virginia has a concealed-weapons law. But Virginia Tech was, by the decree of its administrators, a "gun-free zone." Those with concealed-weapons permits were not allowed to take their guns on campus and were disciplined when they did. A bill was introduced in the House of Delegates to allow permit holders to carry guns on campus. When it was sidetracked, a Virginia Tech administrator hailed the action and said that students, professors, and visitors would now "feel safe" on campus. Tragically, they weren't safe. Virginia Tech's "gun-free zone" was not gun free. In contrast, killers on other campuses were stopped by faculty or bystanders who had concealed-weapons permits and brandished their guns to stop the killing."

As I suspected, but I was waiting until this issue cooled down to say so. Virgina Tech Campus would not allow students or faculty to carry a handgun. And as always, when it is a criminal offense to carry a gun, then only criminals will carry guns. Most people do not wish to violate the law, but a criminal won't care.
So, how do you stop those who are criminals?

Rick Perry
has the answer:
"
Texas should consider allowing licensed, law-abiding citizens to carry their authorized weapon anywhere in the state.

"I think a person ought to be able to carry their weapon with them anywhere in this state if they are licensed, and they have gone through the training," Perry said.

When Perry said anywhere in the state, he meant it.

"Whether they're in church or whether they're on a college campus or wherever they are," Perry added. "The last time I checked, putting up a sign that says, 'Don't bring your gun in here,' for someone who has ill intent on their mind, they could (not) care less."

All handguns, licensed or not, are currently banned from bars, restaurants, schools, sporting events, correctional facilities, hospitals, nursing homes, amusement parks, places of worship, governmental meetings and courthouses."

Very True.

5 comments:

jonathan said...

When someone is out to kill as many people as it can, it matters not how stringent the gun laws really are. A murderous psycopath has no regard for the law...but as you said, the law abiding citizens do.

So all we have done is disarm those that had no interest of killing in the first place, and in doing so left countless defenseless for more massacres like these.

I am not completely surprised considering the culture we live in today. With evolution and abortion running rampant, the value of human life is all but a memory. What's the big deal if we kill a few people? There's dying animal species everywhere, right?

Gun laws don't solve the problem. People positively affected by the Word of God and the value of human life are the only way to even attempt to slow down these types of killings.

Sorry for the long one ;D

Matthew Celestine said...

I think allowing concealed weapons is a good idea.

Solameanie said...

Sadly enough, here in the People's Republic of Illinois we have some of the most rabidly anti-gun politicians in the country. Our legislature (controlled by the left) is trying to ram through a new law banning magazines that will hold more than 10 rounds. Don't try to confuse them with the facts either, such as John Lott's excellent book "More Guns, Less Crime.

Now that the Dems are back in charge in Congress, look for more bans to surface. Here's hoping Bush will veto them, but who knows.

Kingdom Advancer said...

This is a confusing issue for me.

In places where alcohol is sold, like sporting events and bars, I have a tendency to think that banning guns is a good thing. However, if there aren't sufficient security measures (I don't know if there are or not) to keep those with criminal intent and ordinary law-breakers from sneaking a gun in, what's the point anyway? Again, only law-abiders will abide. It's simply dis-arming and making vulnerable the innocent and upstanding citizens.

In places where tempers flare, like bars, sporting events, courthouses, and even hospitals, I again think banning guns might be the answer. But again, are the security measures in place so that NO ONE can POSSIBLY get a weapon on the premises?

shadowsoflove.blogspot.com said...

Good points KA, I personally would oppose allowing guns in courthouses esp. while a trial is going on.