“Lots of kids, when very young, worry about monsters under the bed. Even when Mom or Dad comes in to reassure them, the kids may still worry. But as they get older, they begin to check under the bed themselves. And eventually, after many monster-free nights, they figure out that the danger is purely imaginary and they stop worrying. You would think by now that gun-control supporters would have made the same progress on one of their most fearsome demons: the licensing of citizens to carry concealed firearms. But they seem to be trapped in a recurring nightmare that exists only in their minds.” (Steve Chapman, “Concealed weapons a threat – to ignorance”, syndicated/Baltimore Sun, Nov. 29).
The concealed-carry bogeyman
“Lots of kids, when very young, worry about monsters under the bed. Even when Mom or Dad comes in to reassure them, the kids may still worry. But as they get older, they begin to check under the bed themselves. And eventually, after many monster-free nights, they figure out that the danger is purely imaginary […]
5 Comments
“For some people – solitary women in particular – having the means of self-defense in the woods can be not only a comfort but a lifesaver.”
The average citizen doesn’t need a gun, but because their woodland skills are so poor they do need a cell phone.
Guns unfortunately create the same hazard as cell phones:
Cell phone toting tourists feel like they don’t have to be prepared to enter the woods with prior experience, adequate clothing, ability to make fire, build shelter or tend to their own health and safety; with a cell phone they think that their piss poor planning will easily become somebody else’s problem with one quick call.
The gun toting person is more likely to enter situations that prudence would dictate to avoid. Once having put themselves in a situation where the reasonable would fear to tread they have to be willing to use thier gun, and use it first, even preemptively before the other guy can get the drop on them. Street smarts and common sense serve most of us quite well. If your only tool of self preservation is a gun then every situation will tend to appear to be one that requires flying lead.
nevins: I don’t think the analogy to cell phones is useful. I’ve certainly seen plenty of documentary evidence that cell-phone toters will get themseleves into more trouble than they would without the lifeline, I’d like to see some evidence that concealed-carry licence holders do the same. I think this is another strawman like those that are described in Walter’s original post. There doesn’t seem to be any evidence that those with legal concealed weapons are going into parts of cities that they know are dangerous at a higher rate than non-carriers due to some heightened sense of safety. Since there’s no evidence of this in cities where concealed-carry is legal, I can’t see how this is going to be a problem in national parks.
In my experience, concealed-carry license holders seem to be, quite different from the strawmen put up against them, able to reason about their security at a higher level than the average person. They seem to seek out their license to carry as an added layer to their personal security in addition to the things that they already to to protect themselves like avoiding dangerous confrontations, being aware of their surroundings, etc.
bilb,
I agree. Gun owners are MORE likely to consider the consequences of their actions in order to avoid situations that would require the use of a gun.
nevins,
“Guns bad.”
Thanks for the well-reasoned and utterly prediactable “Guns are evil” response.
It so happens that muggings, etc, take place ANYWHERE – just beeecause they are less likely doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Criminals break into homes in ALL areas of the city, even if it’s less often in some areas than others.
Guns are simply a tool. I carry a large swiss army knife to deal with any occasion where such things are needed (screwdriver, pliers, scissors, small blade, etc). Why wouldn’t I carry a reasonable wapon to dfend myself in case that comes up as well? The issue is exactly the same (preparedness), only much more important, as one is unlikly to die for need of a screwdriver.
Oh, and the average ctizen doesn’t NEED a swimming pool, cell phone, telephone, automobile, helicopter, airplane, second home, pet, bucket, or large kitchen knife. With the exception of phones, all of the above cause deaths every year (some of them quite a few), and none of them have Constitutional protection. “Citizens don’t need guns” is a red herring.
Thinking that people who carry concealed weapons rely on them as their “only tool of self preservation” and that they willingly place themselves in dangerous situations is asinine. People who legally carry weapons, view them the same way car drivers view auto insurance, it’s something you’re willing to pay for in case you need it, but hope you never have to use it. For example, I startled a burglar (and was startleld myself) who was trying to break into one of our storage lockers. I said “Time to go” in a stern voice and he walked away. I didn’t pull my gun, but had he attacked me I had the means to defend myself. BTW, I had left my cell phone in the office.