The Missouri state legislature is considering concealed carry of firearms. Four years ago, we had a referendum (Prop B) that was narrowly defeated — with huge polarization between rural and suburban/urban. So the Post-Dispatch has weighed in on the subject, and as always they are foursquare against the idea of the average citizen carrying a firearm. I used to be with them on this subject, but I was convinced more than four years ago when I used to participate in the Post’s forums that gun control is a dead end.

“Missourians have had this duel before. In 1999, 52 percent of Missouri voters – led by urban residents and suburban Republican women – said no to concealed weapons. That should have settled the matter.”

OK, so one vote is good for all time? Let’s just keep the current Missouri governor and legislature, the current US President and Congress then. People can’t change their minds — not when it’s the outcome we like, anyway.

“Ms. Hanaway is right about the different climate. But she’s too smart to think that a citizen packing heat is going to plug a terrorist. It’s preposterous for a lawmaker to imply that a concealed-carry law would have made Americans safer on Sept. 11, or now. New York was among states with a concealed-carry law on the books in 2001.”

Well, four planes were hijacked that day. That represents the failure of the professionals, all the people who were supposed to keep us safe from that. Of those four, the passengers on three followed the professional advice – don’t resist. Those planes killed three thousand people. In the fourth plane, there was enough time for the passengers to consider the professional advice in light of events, and decide instead to resist. Those passengers, a cross section of America, without training, deputizing, or official sanction, saved the lives of many others and foiled the hijackers intent. So let’s not scoff at the efforts of the unwashed masses, they can make a difference.

“The bill would allow concealed weapons in churches, with proper approval, and child care centers but not in casinos, bars, prisons, sports arenas and police stations. And, yes, lawmakers in Jefferson City would be allowed to carry weapons in the House and Senate chambers.”

Yeah. Is there a point to this sentence beyond trying to scare people?

“In theory, felons, mentally unstable people and others convicted of misdemeanors involving a crime of violence wouldn’t get permits. In practice, some would. Sheriff departments issuing the permits would have no way of flagging the mentally ill and other violent people who had no contact with the criminal justice system. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Larry Crawford, R-California, concedes that this is a flaw, but insists the bill will protect people. Do you really want to put concealed, loaded pistols in the hands of violent, unstable people who elude background checks? The Senate and the governor should say no, even if it takes a filibuster or a veto to uphold the will of the voters.”

At last we are to the meat of it. Allowing concealed carry would NOT put loaded pistols into the hands of violent, unstable people. This bill allows the law abiding to carry a pistol if they so desire. Crooks, the mentally ill, violent and unstable people can already pack heat now if they want. If a law against murder with far greater penalties and social opprobrium doesn’t deter someone from murder (or rape, armed robbery, etc), adding a law against concealed carry sure as heck won’t. That’s the fundamental problem with gun control: It tries to restrain people with a noodle who aren’t restrainable by a steel chain.

Another common objection is that otherwise minor kerfuffles would escalate into deadly encounters with concealed carry. The majority of states allow concealed carry, and it hasn’t turned them into shooting galleries. Why would Missouri be any different?

And finally, to me the right to self defense is the most fundamental, superseding all others. And allowing concealed carry allows people a choice in how they exercise that right. It doesn’t preclude dogs, pepper spray, martial arts training, luck, or any other method. If you hate guns, fine. You don’t have to carry. By why impose your morality on others?

Tags: concealed carry, gun control, St. Louis Post-Dispatch