Constitutional carry bill a bad idea

“A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Of all the amendments to the U.S. Constitution, perhaps none is more controversial than the Second Amendment – part of the Bill of Rights – that gives Americans the right to bear arms. As one of the most widely interpreted and legally challenged of the amendments it remains under attack by Democrats in the White House and Congress who eagerly chip away at it with ever increasing gun control laws.

Every time there is a mass shooting the cry goes out for more gun control legislation. Republicans in the Texas Legislature, however, want to push the pendulum the other way by making it easier to carry firearms. The so-called Constitutional Carry bill that passed the house but is bogged down in the senate would do away with license to carry permits in the state. We think this is a really bad idea.

Before you go accusing us of being a bunch of liberal, anti-gun nut jobs, hear us out. We’re not opposed to the Second Amendment and the right of the people to have guns. We’re opposed to the irresponsibility and the senseless mayhem that tends to go with it. No one wants to see another mass shooting or a killing of any kind. For those bent on murder, a gun is a means to an end. The real focus should be on preventing the root causes of the action, not the tool used to carry it out.

Although a case can be made that any and all gun control laws are an infringement of the Second Amendment, the courts and experience have proven the legality and the effectiveness of the laws already on the books. The laws aren’t perfect, and never will be, but they’re a far cry from the lawless days of the Wild West or the violence of Prohibition Era gangsters.

Having license to carry permits provides a degree of security and safety. Anyone obtaining a permit will have gone through background checks, eliminating those who should not be in possession of a firearm, including felons and some of those who are mentally ill. It also means the bearer if the permit has been trained in proper gun safety and handling and has been instructed on state and federal gun laws.

Guns and social conditions today are a far cry from what they were when our forefathers penned the Bill of Rights. Back then, the only firearms that existed were flintlocks. There were concerns about the government (more specifically the British) taking guns away from citizens. There was also a need for the Colonial government to have an armed citizenry to form militias for state and national defense.

Today we have six branches of the military and there are thousands of types of firearms, all of which fire faster and with more accuracy than flintlock rifles and pistols. Cleary this is something the founding fathers could not foresee, thus the need for regulation.

As much as we do not want to see guns in the hands of untrained and irresponsible individuals, we also don’t want to see any more “tightening of the loopholes” and other threats of gun control every time there is a tragedy involving firearms.

The threat of banning guns is as dangerous as giving them free rein. Answering extremism with extremism is the wrong approach. Rather than having this political polarization on the subject of gun control, why can’t we see more of a cooperative, centrist approach? Safety first should always be the mantra when it comes to guns. That is why the license to carry permits are so important and effective. The big thing that can help pull both sides of the issue together, however, is a focus on fixing the issues that lead to gun violence.

Improving the quality of mental and emotional health in this country is a first, obvious step. The next is the toning down of political rhetoric. We’ve passed the tipping point in this country to where politics have evolved beyond supporting a cause to opposing the other party. This inflames passion and emotion which can lead to more hatred and violence.

We realize that there will never be a way to satisfy everyone on the issue of gun control and it will never go away, but the first step involves listening and having open communication along with respect and responsibility. It’s at least worth a shot. – JS

(NOTE: This is an unpublished editorial.)