Guns in Public

[billh58]

The National Rifle Association (NRA) frequently claims that civilians who carry loaded guns in public are the most law-abiding citizens in America. While this is undoubtedly true in some cases, it has become apparent that the screening process in most states does little or nothing to stop dangerous individuals from carrying guns in public spaces.

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Approximately 38 states have “Shall-Issue” laws that force law enforcement officials to approve carry permits for any applicant who passes a basic computerized background check through the FBI’s NICS database (which is missing millions of disqualifying records). Individuals with misdemeanor criminal convictions, DUI offenses, past domestic abuse restraining orders, and histories of voluntary commitment to psychiatric institutions can and do obtain permits legally. Training requirements-if there are any for permit holders-are no more rigorous than a single day-class in instruction.

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In truth, there is no constitutional “right” to carry a loaded, concealed firearm in public. The Supreme Court was clear on this issue in their decision in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller. “The Second Amendment right is not unlimited,” wrote Justice Antonin Scalia. “It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose: For example, concealed weapons prohibitions have been upheld under the Amendment or state analogues. The Court’s opinion should not be taken to cast doubt on longstanding…laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings.”

Despite the numerous problems cited above regarding the screening process for those carrying guns in public, the NRA is currently pushing to allow guns to be brought into public spaces across America—including K-12 schools, colleges, churches, parks, airports, metro transport, restaurants, and even bars.

http://csgv.org/issues/concealed-carry/

The extreme right-wing gun lobby along with their enablers and supporters from both political extremes, are using fear (self defense against boogey men) to market and sell guns to people who neither need, nor should they be in possession of deadly weapons.

Contrary to the beliefs and protestations of gun nuts, there is no Second Amendment "right" to carry a gun in the public venue, nor should there be. Stand-your-ground laws are nothing more than an attempt to legalize vigilantism, and are also aimed at selling more guns unnecessarily and creating a public health hazard.

An armed society is a dangerous society, and the United States provides ample truth of that fact.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. K & R!!!!

[Squinch]

2. I'm just getting really, really tired of the gunfights that keep erupting outside the

elementary schools I work in.

(Two so far this year - one arising from a traffic altercation, one last year and one the year before. Around the five and six year olds.)

[billh58]

3. The gun worshipers

would say that these incidents are caused by those who carry guns "illegally." The fact is that the victims (including those who are not physically injured but are traumatized) don't really consider the "legality" of the cause of their injuries. Guns are designed to kill living things including children.

All guns (except those manufactured privately) enter our society as "legal" guns through a licensed dealer, or are purchased directly from the manufacturer by a government entity. Those guns become "illegal" when they are allowed to be sold as "straw purchases," advertised and sold on Craig's List, transferred in an alley behind a gun show, or are stolen from a careless owner.

Instead of enacting laws strengthening the safekeeping, sale, transfer, or disposal of guns, the right wing gun lobby promotes an arms race using fear of illegal gun owners as the "enemy." Bottom line? More profits.

[Squinch]

4. The latest - the one that happened just after dismissal time between two irate traffic arguers - was

between two lawful gun owners.

So was the shootout between the cops and a lawful gun owner a few months ago.

The ones before that may very well have involved illegally owned guns, but as you point out the illegal gun ownership comes about because of rules that the "responsible gun owners" fight to keep in place.

[Thomas Hurt]

5. the 2nd Amendment does not give you the right

to carry weapons on private property either, unless you have permission to do so. This is in part what Scalia was getting at.

Something the NRA will try to chip away at as well.

If you respect private property rights and want to keep your job.......then all the pro-gun chest beating and manliness is just that. There is a disconnect here.

You own a gun, you are free to carry it to your car, to drive around with it, but if businesses, employers, etc. were to push back in a concerted effort...........well, what is the purpose of carrying a gun if you have to leave it in your car almost everywhere you go?

[billh58]

6. At this point, as pointed out

in Heller, the only place where there is a Constitutional "right" to keep a gun is in the home. Public carry and display varies from locality to locality, and the NRA right-wingers want to enact nationwide concealed/open carry where the States have no choice in the matter.

In a civilized society (and there many such examples, not counting the USA) there is no need to carry a gun in public. In these societies the gun-related injuries and deaths are a small fraction of those in the United States.