Thoughts About Gun Control
I Beleve in gun control. If I can’t control my gun how else am I gonna hit what I’m aiming at?
Recent legislation in Georgia has brought about many fears of running gun battles in the streets. The Safe Carry Protections Act, which was nicknamed by opponents as the ‘guns everywhere bill’, went into effect on July 1, 2014. There are many provisions but the bottom line is people who have valid concealed carry permits can carry their gun into public places like bars, churches, schools and parts of airports. These places retain the right to refuse to let guns in if the choose. Similar laws have recently been passed recently in several other states.
I can’t see this as anything but a good thing. We already have criminals carrying guns wherever they want. We already have people getting hit by stray bullets in the cross fire. Three children in my city have been hit this year, one fatally, and it’s only July. So why not loosen up the laws and give the law abiding folks a even chance.
In the areas where these laws have been passed, the street were not immediately transformed into Dodge City with Marshall Dillon taking down the bounty hunters who think they have a mission. In fact just the opposite. No one noticed a change in downtown Atlanta when the new law went into effect. Several years ago in another city there was even a thwarted robbery at a drugstore because of a similar law. The only reason that guy got in trouble was he was concealing his weapon and he was therefore charged with a misdemeanor.
In other places, where guns have been a part of the culture for almost 200 years, they become a marketing device. There’s a restaurant in Rifle, Colorado (what better place?) where the servers all carry guns and the customers are encouraged to do the same. The place hasn’t been robbed yet. I think the sign posted in the dining room sums it up the best:
Please keep all weapons holstered unless need arises. In such case, judicious marksmanship is appreciated.
This sounds like the simple philosophy that should allay any concerns of non-gun-toting bystanders. Just keep your gun in your holster until you have to use it. And when you feel threatened, don’t miss what you’re aiming at. Even Duke Wayne would go along with that thought.