Op-Ed: Should New York tourists have their lives destroyed because of concealed carry laws?

by John Lott

Just a few days before Christmas, Meredith Graves made a mistake that could end her medical career and send her to prison for at least 3 1/2 years. The 39-year-old fourth-year medical student was carrying a permitted concealed handgun when she saw the sign at the 9/11 Memorial saying "No guns allowed." She did the responsible thing and asked a security guard where she could check her weapon. Unfortunately, while her Tennessee concealed carry license is recognized in 40 states, New York isn't one of them. Meredith was arrested.

A week earlier, Californian Mark Meckler told LaGuardia Airport officials that he had licensed handgun in a locked safe in checked baggage. At virtually any other airport in the country, checking a gun locked in a box wouldn't be a problem. Meckler was arrested and charged with second-degree possession of an illegal weapons. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

Even New York's second most powerful Democrat and a strong gun control advocate, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver thinks that tourists who accidentally break the state's strict carry laws shouldn't have their lives destroyed. "Her actions show a clear indication that she didn't know she was breaking the law, and when she saw the sign, she said, 'OK, I do have a gun. Take it from me.' There was no criminal intent," said Silver.

As the Tennessean newspaper (Nashville) put it: "[Meredith's] arrest highlights the confusing patchwork of concealed weapons laws across the nation."

But New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the local District Attorneys don't seem interested in showing mercy. They take a zero tolerance approach towards these mistakes. Indeed, a week after Graves arrest, Mayor Bloomberg attacked her at a press conference claiming: "Let's assume she didn't get arrested for carrying a gun, she probably would have gotten arrested for the cocaine that was in her pocket." But that same day the Manhattan District Attorney's office acknowledged that Graves did not have any cocaine.

At the Republican presidential debate last night in South Carolina sponsored by Fox News, Republican candidates competed with each other over demonstrating who was the strongest supporter of letting Americans have the right to defend themselves. It is an issue that President Obama's consistent opposition to gun ownership makes him particularly vulnerable on.

But...no one took up the cause of Graves, Meckler, and the others who have their lives risk being destroyed by New York City's laws.

...The incidents with Graves, Meckler, Benedetto, and Jerome shouldn’t keep happening. What is clear is that if the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act passes, just like the original ruckus over passing concealed handgun laws, the fears about allowing people to travel with guns will soon be forgotten.

Click here to read the entire op-ed at FOXNews.com.