News from The Sight M1911, Volume 155

News from The Sight M1911

Volume 155, 5/18/04

I happened to catch the re-run of "The West Wing" in which the show takes its pot shots at "shall issue” concealed carry. After a fictitious shooting at a church, the president attempts to get his vice president to attend a gun control rally and express the president’s opposition to “shall issue.” The vice president is reluctant to go because he doesn't share the president's anti-gun sentiments, and he doesn't think it is a wise move politically. They engage in a lop-sided argument about the merits and liabilities of “shall issue.” President Bartlett makes the point, "If firearms are a deterrent for crime, what's the point of concealing them? Shouldn't they be carried for everyone to see?" The vice president replies weakly, "I don't know."

While the imaginary vice president may not know the answer to this question, I do. There are three primary reasons that concealed carry is preferable to open carry.

First of all, most people are actually more comfortable with concealed carry than they are with open carry. It’s more comfortable to wear a gun concealed just because you don’t have to deal with the emotional heat from people who aren’t comfortable with guns, and yet, you have your gun in case you need it. People who don't like or know guns are scared of people wearing guns. The gun control fanatics are all wrapped up with their dark projection fantasies which hold that every gun owner is a psychopath hunting for his next venue for a massacre. With the guns out of sight, they don't have to deal with that. They can pretend, as they always have, even long before any concealed carry laws, that they aren't there even though they are and always have been. We know that one day they'll get mugged or threatened, achieve enlightenment, and develop a whole new appreciation for our ugly old guns, but until that day comes, why upset them? Concealment makes everyone more comfortable.

The second issue is tactical and has two parts. You never want to give your adversary any information on your capabilities. If you know something that he doesn't know, you have a distinct advantage. Closely related is the fact that some types of criminals will target a person if they know they have a gun for the purpose of stealing the gun. If they don't know, they won't try something.

The third primary reason that concealed carry is an advantage is that it is a psychological "force multiplier." The fact that personal defense weapons are concealed means that the bad guys don't know who is and isn't carrying a gun. This means that every potential victim may be armed and ready to resist in a “shall issue” state. The uncertainty created by concealment multiplies the deterrent effect on criminals of concealed carry. One could say that a single concealed handgun protects a thousand unarmed citizens. Concealment is a force multiplier.

ARMED ISRAELI CIVILIANS HELP CURB TERROR DAMAGE, SECURITY OFFICIAL SAYS

Israeli civilians who carry their own guns are helping to curb the damage that terrorists can inflict by being able to deal immediately with a terrorist situation, an Israeli security official said.

http://tinyurl.com/334ul

THE SCARLET LETTER

Under the state's new law legalizing concealed guns, Missourians licensed to conceal and carry must get a new driver's license that will announce a person's concealed-gun permit in bright red type, the Department of Revenue said Monday.

http://tinyurl.com/2wrlb

INTOLERANCE OF GUN OWNERS NATION-WIDE PROBLEM

http://www.wisinfo.com/northwestern/sports/stories/sports_16123481.shtml

DISARMAMENT STILL A THREAT

Gun banners are like the Terminator. They absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are disarmed.

http://www.libertybelles.org/articles/disarmament.htm

GUN CONTROL MARCH LACKED NUMBERS AND IMPACT

It wasn't a "Million Mom March" -- it was a "thousand gang limp"

http://tinyurl.com/2elw8

MILLION MOM MARCH WAS PLEASANT...ALMOST!

http://www.armedfemalesofamerica.com/takingaim/rally.htm

MAN KILLED BY EX-GIRLFRIEND DURING BREAK-IN, SHOOTING RAMPAGE

http://www.thehometownchannel.com/news/3289803/detail.html

A CHOICE IN THE WILDERNESS: FEAR THE COUGAR OR FEAR THE GUN?

After the January mountain lion attacks, some South County hikers and bikers are arming themselves. Others wonder if that's a good idea.

http://tinyurl.com/2lxhl

HOMEOWNER WOUNDED IN GUN BATTLE WITH BURGLARS

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2564962

DENIALS FLOW AFTER GUN ACCUSATIONS

A Pinellas lawyer is demanding exoneration after he was accused of weapons violations.

http://tinyurl.com/34jq9

LAWSUIT FAULTS GUN RECORDS' COST, USE

A New York state system requiring the ballistics “fingerprinting” of new handguns sold in New York has cost taxpayers millions while doing nothing to solve crimes, a federal lawsuit contends.

http://www.rochesterdandc.com/news/0510AQ46M3G_news.shtml

ATF: EX-FELON SHERIFF CAN ALREADY CARRY GUN LEGALLY

http://tinyurl.com/39ygx

WHEN OLD CONVICTIONS WON'T DIE

http://tinyurl.com/2zv3n

CALIFORNIA: EX-SAN BERNARDINO SHERIFF TOOK 523 GUNS FROM DEPARTMENT, DA SAYS

http://tinyurl.com/2kd6k

FLORIDA: GOVERNOR SIGNS GUN RANGE BILL

Gun range owners will get immunity from lead cleanup lawsuits under certain conditions and police will be banned from keeping electronic lists of law-abiding gun owners under bills signed Thursday by Gov. Jeb Bush.

http://tinyurl.com/2jxnh

ILLINOIS: HOUSE OKS SELF-DEFENSE GUN LAW

The Illinois House on Thursday approved a measure giving legal protection to gun owners who use banned firearms in self-defense while at their homes or businesses.

http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/051404/new_20040514053.shtml

ILLINOIS: PRO-GUN BILLS GET VETO THREAT

Blagojevich wants assault weapons ban to be passed

http://tinyurl.com/3c4y9

MICHIGAN: GRANHOLM SIGNS BILLS ALLOWING ANTIQUE GUN PURCHASES WITHOUT LICENSE

http://www.freep.com/news/statewire/sw97769_20040513.htm

NEW HAMPSHIRE: TO PERMIT OR NOT TO PERMIT LOADED, CONCEALED GUNS?

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/exeter/05112004/faceoff/15476.htm

OHIO: GUN GROUP TAKES BATTLE TO BUSINESSES

A group that pushed for approval of the state's new concealed weapons law is asking gun permit holders to boycott businesses that prohibit people from carrying hidden guns.

http://www.onnnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=1856335&nav=LQlCN0i0

SOUTH CAROLINA: REPEAL OF BAN ON BUYING MORE THAN ONE GUN A MONTH PASSES, AWAITS GOVERNOR’S OK

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/8672554.htm

UTAH: IN UTAH, BIRKENSTOCKS, BACKPACKS, AND GUNS?

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0510/p03s01-usju.html

CANADA: FIREARMS ACT PROTESTER GUILTY OF GUN CHARGES

http://tinyurl.com/2r7h8

CANADA: SCRAP GUN REGISTRY, POLL URGES

Liberals living in 'dreamworld': MP

http://tinyurl.com/2dg9l

THE WHAT NOT TO DO FILE: ST. PAUL OFFICER ACCUSED IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS SAYS HE LENT GUN TO HIS COUSIN

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4773509.html