2008 Woodie Awards
Concealed weapons do more harm than good
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: Opinion/Editorial
The 2007 National Rifle Association Convention April 13 through 15 at America's Center downtown was the biggest convention in recent St. Louis history with 64,562 gun-toting attendees.
For comparison's sake, according to the 2000 census, the population of Webster Groves is 23,230 - that's nearly a third of the NRA convention's attendance.
Much as The Journal would like to condone all of the (debatable) rights the hallowed Constitution endows upon its citizens - including those in the holy First Amendment - we must express our concern on what "gun rights" bring to Missouri, particularly in the wake of the terrible tragedy at Virginia Tech University.
An example of what we might want to rethink is that odd conceal and carry law, allowing people to carry concealed weapons. Ostensibly, it is meant as a way to defend oneself against potential attackers.
But does it? Now is the time Missouri should look at this issue. How comfortable should Missourians be knowing - or rather not knowing - the person at the end of the grocery store checkout line is packing heat?
To supporters, that old NRA adage must come to mind at this point: Guns don't kill people. People kill people.
Well, they're absolutely right. People with guns kill people - as the 32 dead at Virginia Tech illustrate.
Missouri in particular and the United States in general need much more effective gun control and gun enthusiasts need to stop fighting that idea.
If the argument for guns is to keep people safe, then doesn't the Virginia incident easily damage that logic?
For comparison's sake, according to the 2000 census, the population of Webster Groves is 23,230 - that's nearly a third of the NRA convention's attendance.
Much as The Journal would like to condone all of the (debatable) rights the hallowed Constitution endows upon its citizens - including those in the holy First Amendment - we must express our concern on what "gun rights" bring to Missouri, particularly in the wake of the terrible tragedy at Virginia Tech University.
An example of what we might want to rethink is that odd conceal and carry law, allowing people to carry concealed weapons. Ostensibly, it is meant as a way to defend oneself against potential attackers.
But does it? Now is the time Missouri should look at this issue. How comfortable should Missourians be knowing - or rather not knowing - the person at the end of the grocery store checkout line is packing heat?
To supporters, that old NRA adage must come to mind at this point: Guns don't kill people. People kill people.
Well, they're absolutely right. People with guns kill people - as the 32 dead at Virginia Tech illustrate.
Missouri in particular and the United States in general need much more effective gun control and gun enthusiasts need to stop fighting that idea.
If the argument for guns is to keep people safe, then doesn't the Virginia incident easily damage that logic?
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