Excerpted from an excellent article by Doug Patton in Human Events.com (via NRA-ILA):
At Virginia Tech last spring, 32 people were gunned down in a gun-free zone. At Columbine High School in 1999, 13 innocent people were killed. In a Killeen, Texas, café in 1991, 23 died at the hands of a gunman run amok. And in a Southern California McDonalds restaurant in 1984, 21 lost their lives when a shooter went berserk. These are just a few of the shooting incidents around the world, all enabled by the same failure: there was no way to stop those responsible for perpetrating the killings.
After years of debate, the Nebraska Legislature passed a concealed-carry law last spring. It permits law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed firearm after paying a fee, completing a training course and submitting to a background check. However, as is so often the case with contested legislation, compromise was necessary for passage. In this case, the compromise consisted of allowing communities and businesses to opt out. Of course, this was a victory for liberals, who seem to believe that guns somehow can kill on their own. Unfortunately, for those of us who understand that inanimate objects do not kill people, this left a gaping hole in an otherwise useful law.
The upscale Von Maur store at the Westroads shopping center remained closed following the shootings. If I were the CEO of that corporation, before I authorized the reopening of that store, I would change the signs on the doors to read, “Law-abiding Nebraskans carrying concealed weapons welcome here.”
Update: Minstrel quotes the Nuge on this issue: Gun Free Zones Get People Killed.
Here’s another interesting post on the topic:
http://biggirlpants.typepad.com/big_girl_pants/2007/12/infringe-on-the.html
From the comments there:
A gun that’s locked up in a safe or drawer does no one any good. I carry all the time “everywhere I go. I don’t tell people, I don’t make it obvious to anyone. In fact, no one would have any idea that I am carrying a gun. I have taken courses, I was raised shooting guns of all sorts, I have my carry permit. Everything legal.”
Take care!
Good article from Big Girl – Stossel seems to be the only ABC correspondent who ‘sometimes’ gets it right.
I agree with your statements about locked guns. Most, but not all, are under lock and key when we’re at home. Unfortunately, when we go out into a more dangerous world, we aren’t packing.
We’re looking into CCW permits for us both. I have owned and shot firearms for over 40 years, and had practical experience from when I was in the military. Damsel is now comfortable and proficient with our guns.
We both look forward to completing the important CCW milestone.
If a business were to post a sign that said – concealed permit holder get 10 percent discount- ( whether on certain things or a one time purchase). I believe this get the attention of anyone who does not have good intentions.
Now there’s an idea . . .
Offer discounts to properly trained and certified permit holders in order to encourage crime deterrent into your store. Interesting . . .
The only drawback is that you may have to identify yourself as CCW, something many would not want to do. This could be mitigated by offering a discrete signup process similar to club cards offered by retail chains. Input your PIN and get the discount.