Mainstream media and the anti-gun organizations' blame-game
Mainstream media and the anti-gun organizations have historically blamed deaths on the existence of too many guns in the hands of too many people. But what if the opposite conclusion is correct? If there were more guns in the hands of properly trained CCW permit holders, perhaps even one life could have been saved. More likely, many lives could have been saved.
But even as a potential deterrent to these mass killings presents itself, other problems arise. For instance, current federal law prohibits loaded firearms in schools. In addition, most CCW permit states list schools as prohibited areas for concealed handguns. Other mass gatherings that would be attractive to potential killers are also listed as prohibited under many state CCW permit laws.
CCW permit holders must undergo background checks and weapons training, yet they're not trusted to carry guns where they might be most beneficial in the defense of others. A spokesman for the Jonesboro, Arkansas, prosecutor's office acknowledged that a CCW permit holder in Arkansas could legally "shoot the shooter" in a hypothetical Columbine-type scenario. However, he added, the CCW permit holder would probably still face some sort of charges for carrying a loaded weapon onto school grounds.
So while the movement for concealed carry rights continues to sweep across the country, our optimism must be tempered by the vexing questions that emerge in its wake. If, in this post-9/11 security environment, we expect CCW permit holders to act, in part, as an armed Neighborhood Watch for the nation, then we must take steps to dramatically reduce the physical and legal pitfalls that they face. CCW permit holders cannot afford to hesitate when a moment of crisis is at hand. Innocent lives may literally hang in the balance.
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