As you know, the streets have not run red with blood since concealed carry laws have been liberalized. (I love that word in that context.) Nor has the explosion in concealed weapons permits turned recently reclaimed territory into the Wild West (setting aside the fact that the Wild West was a monastery compared to the ganglands of New York City and other conurbations of the time). While some state residents continue to live under the yoke of nearasdammit total gun control, those that have thrown off their ballistic shackles continue to defend and extend their rights, facing the same old non-arguments. For example, North Carolina Rep. Mark Hilton is legislating to “allow” guns in bars and deny “city councils and boards of commissioners the option of banning guns from playgrounds, athletic fields and facilities, and swimming pools” . . .
Jonathan Carr, a lobbyist for the N.C. Pediatric Society, said that organization was concerned that the bill would put more weapons in public places. “We believe there’s more likelihood of injury and deaths to children.”
Is that really the best gun control advocates and the Raleigh News and Observer (reprinted in The Miami Herald) can do? More guns = a greater chance that a child may die? No stats, no hyperbole, nothing? Are gun rights advocates really just mopping up in North Carolina? Seem so . . .
A gun bill left over from the flurry of gun bills that cleared the North Carolina General Assembly last year was resurrected Thursday. This one, HB111, would allow anyone with a permit to carry a concealed weapon to bring that gun into a restaurant that serves alcohol, which is currently illegal.
The bill also clarifies what part of park property that firearms would be allowed on. A law that went into effect in December gave city councils and boards of commissioners the option of banning guns from playgrounds, athletic fields and facilities, and swimming pools.
Gun-rights advocates say some cities and towns have expanded gun bans beyond those specific places. This bill would prohibit guns from being banned on greenways, biking or walking paths, and open areas that are on park lands.
Rep. Mark Hilton, a Republican from Catawba County who has been the key sponsor of the gun bills, told a Senate judiciary committee on Thursday that the state restaurant association and the sheriffs’ association do not oppose this version of the bill.
Under the legislation, restaurant owners would still be able to prohibit customers from bringing weapons, concealed or not, into their establishments, but they would have to post a conspicuous notice to that effect.
Hilton said there are about 250,000 permit-holders in the state and less than 1 percent of them have had their permits revoked. In other words, this is a law-abiding segment of the population, he said.
Why that’s 2500 potential concealed carry killers! Someone call the Violence Policy Center!
Meanwhile, I reckon it’s time to concentrate the gun rights fight in anti-gun states. I’m also up for using open carry (a.k.a,, tough love) to “sell” gun rights to citizens living in condition white about the whole gun thing. Others STFU (visually speaking) and stick to the courts.
How do you think this battle should proceed?