Concealed Weapons
INRODUCTION: The idea of carrying concealed weapons is not new.
This writer argues that the only people carrying a concealed weapon should be those who have a clear need to do so.
SUPPORTING ARGUMENTS: It is not possible to keep loaded, concealed guns from people who should not have them.
OPPOSING ARGUMENT: Some argue that the Second Amendment justifies allowing most people to carry weapons.
The laws serve no useful purpose because those who need concealed weapons can already get permits.
The idea of carrying concealed weapons is not new. Most if not all states have allowed selected people, for instance, diamond cutters and jewelers, who must carry items of great value, to carry a concealed weapon for many years. The newer issue regarding concealed weapons refers to states such as Missouri, which has passed a new loaded and concealed weapon law allowing the great majority of the state's residents to carry a concealed weapon solely because they want to. This writer argues that the only people carrying a concealed weapon should be those who have a clear need to do so.
Using Missouri as an example, the state requires that the person seeking a permit pass a gun handling test and that it be fired only...
The law forbids that a concealed weapon permit be issued to anyone under a certain age, have a protective order out against them, have a history of drunk driving, or of felonies or violent misdemeanors. They have to pass both state and federal criminal checks. These are important protections. Very young people might tend to be more impulsive about firing that concealed weapon; those who were in, say, a violent fist fight, might be tempted to pull out a gun next time; and people with a history of drunk driving have demonstrated both little regard for the law and poor self-control regarding intoxication, which could be a very bad combination if they also had a loaded gun on them.
The construction of the law in Missouri is interesting. It requires that the gun-handling test include firing the gun at a silhouette from at least seven yards. That's only 21 feet and doesn't seem like much of an accuracy test. The law also stipulates that beyond 21 feet, the person should consider whether escaping or evading the "life-threatening situation" might be a better plan. But wouldn't that be a better plan in all cases? If the person threatening the gun holder has a knife, just pulling the gun out should be enough of a deterrent. If the other person also has a gun, then being…
