Op-Ed: Hidden guns pose no problem to public

The Springfield News Sun has published an excellent opinion editorial from Champaign County resident Michael Wuest. From statistics to historical experience to political correctness, Wuest covers it all. Below are a couple of favorite exerpts:

Exerpt #1:

"How about those who say they wouldn’t want to sit in the next booth at a restaurant or near someone who is legally carrying a gun? Well, what if I don’t want to sit next to a Catholic? Or a lesbian? Or someone with a beard?

You don’t have a right to choose who sits next to you when you are out in public. And why should you care? And how would you even know?"

Exerpt #2:

"In any given year, you are 72 times more likely to be struck by lighting, anywhere in the country, than be shot by someone with a concealed carry permit."

Click on the "Read More..." link below for the full op-ed from Michael Wuest.

Hidden guns pose no problem to public
By MICHAEL WUEST

As of this writing, 33 states have a concealed carry law known as “shall issue.” This mean that law-abiding citizens who meet the state requirements, pass the background check and receive the required training cannot be denied a permit by the local Gestapo or “Bubba the Sheriff.”

Eleven other states have concealed carry laws, even though permits are usually issued to only the rich, famous or politically connected (re: above). New York and California immediately come to mind.

Would anyone have reason to fear if or when a carrying a concealed weapon law is finally passed in Ohio? Instead of wild speculation and ridiculous claims along the lines of “shoot-outs over fender benders” and “blood running in the streets,” why don’t we instead use the real facts, live data and recent history?

There are over 50 million man-years of concealed carry behind us right now. That is four million CCW’s over 12-plus years, in 32, now 33 states. Then there is Vermont, where you never needed any permit.

There has yet to be the first one incident! In all that time, throughout the whole country, there hasn’t been one single incident like that. Or any other misuse of the CCW license.

That means in any given year, you are 72 times more likely to be struck by lighting, anywhere in the country, than be shot by someone with a concealed carry permit. How about the other side of the coin? The one you never hear about?

There are between 1.5 and 2.5 million defensive uses of a firearm to defend against crimes each year. Not all of these lives saved are outside the home, and perhaps are not germane to the CCW discussion. Thank God you don’t need a license to defend yourself at home. Yet.

How about those who say they wouldn’t want to sit in the next booth at a restaurant or near someone who is legally carrying a gun? Well, what if I don’t want to sit next to a Catholic? Or a lesbian? Or someone with a beard?

You don’t have a right to choose who sits next to you when you are out in public. And why should you care? And how would you even know?

The first and cardinal rule of carrying concealed is that the gun stays concealed. If anyone finds out you are carrying (not counting criminals obviously), you have already made a big mistake. The proper reply if asked about carrying a gun is: “It’s none of your business.” I know, because I teach the subject.

Secondly, so what? Since there has never been any problem in 50 million man-years, why are you that paranoid? Is it any different than your next door neighbor having guns in his home? Or are you afraid of that, too?

Follow the example of that great American, Teddy Roosevelt, who said; “There were all kinds of things of which I was afraid at first, ... but by acting as if I was not afraid I gradually ceased to be afraid.” If a sickly, frail asthmatic man can get a grip on his fears, which included bandits and grizzly bears, then so can you.

Lest anyone shout the alarm that we will be “awash with guns,” let’s look at the facts. On average less than two percent of the population has availed itself of a CCW. Do the math. Four million out of 44 states, including the most populous. In perspective, it’s more like a bucket of sand at the beach.

Has anybody bothered to do a reality check? A person intent on committing a crime, i.e., armed robbery, is not deterred by a lack of CCW. My point is that criminals are ignoring the law now. You can’t carry a gun concealed, but they do.

Nor has the availability of a CCW caused anyone, ever, anywhere, to commit a crime with the gun. The very concept that a gun, or a concealed carry license for that matter, can cause someone to commit a crime is completely bogus. In fact, those states that passed a “shall issue” CCW law have seen a 16 percent reduction in violent crime in the last 10 years.

Wouldn't it have been so wonderful, so American, if there had been a trained, licensed, armed and card-carrying (CCW) citizen on either, hopefully both, of the planes that crashed into the World Trade Center? From the perspective of the CCW holder, there is no difference if he or she is on an airplane, or eating at Shoney’s, or walking home from class at OSU.

A “domestic terrorist” is just another kind of dirt bag criminal in our face, wherever encountered, whatever their evil intentions. A CCW, and the gun to go with it, is for that time when you can’t dial 911.

*Michael Wuest is an NRA instructor and range officer and has taught a personal protection course a number of times. He resides in Champaign County.

Click here to find the op-ed in the Springfield News Sun.