Every time I read about a school massacre or other shooting by criminals or crazies, when someone mentions giving the right to carry a concealed weapon on or off campus, I wonder why so many oppose this solution.
Why are they so afraid of the obvious? People who have a concealed-carry permit may well be your best friend when a lawbreaking criminal confronts you or your loved ones.
Concealed-carry permit holders are among the most law-abiding citizens in our society. They realize that any abuse of the permit will result in their losing the privilege to carry a weapon. That's a right they do not want taken away.
Concealed-carry permit holders rarely commit crimes, much less a crime using a weapon.
They have been through a background check, taken the required training, and follow the permit-renewal process every five years. Many have served in the military, with the requisite weapons training. They are not a danger to society in any way.
In fact, guns are used more than 2.5 million times a year to stop a crime or save a life. States with the right to carry have a lower crime rate than those that have the strictest gun control laws.
Permit holders are your friends, teachers, church members, neighbors, wives, daughters, pastors, soccer moms, and others.
They're everywhere, yet you don't see them showing their weapons. You don't see the gunfights the anti-gunners always predict to instill fear. They are the people you want to be with, especially if a criminal threatens you or you loved ones.
It's a shame the anti-gunners have put out so much misinformation and fear. The sad thing is that so many people believe it.
Unjustified fear keeps us from implementing the one solution that works.
Michael Crum
Spotsylvania