Up in arms

"The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be tolerated, and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power."

The above quote is from the Kansas Bill of Rights. Up until now, the lawmakers of Kansas did not even follow their own bill of rights, much less the Constitution of the United States. Private citizens are not authorized to obtain concealed carry permits. I guess that Kansas lawmakers defined "The people" as the police and private detectives.

That is all about to change on January 2nd, 2007, and some folks just are not quite setteled with allowing citizens the ability to protect themselves.

From Arkcity.net:

Up in arms

Police chief fears the worst in new concealed carry law

Two opposing fans get into a shouting match at a sporting event and the argument spills into the parking lot, where one of them pulls a concealed handgun from a car glove compartment and, BANG, argument over.

This is just one scenario that Arkansas City Police Chief Dan Givens fears when Kansas' concealed weapons law takes affect next year.

Every single time a state moves towards freedom and starts to once again allow it's citizens to carry arms, folks like this police chief come out of the woodwork ranting about bloodbaths in the streets. Well Chief, I am here to tell you that it just hasn't happened. People who obey the law, who jump through all the hurdles of obtaining a permit, who pay their fees and go through the background checks are not your street criminals. The thugs and goblins who are part of your fantasy do not bother to go through the hassle of getting a permit.

A quote from a chicken little who admits he was wrong after the Texas shall issue laws had been in effect for awhile:

"All the horror stories I thought would come to pass didn`t happen. . . . I think it`s worked out well, and that says good things about the citizens who have permits.
I`m a convert."

--Glenn White, president of the Dallas Police Ass`n

Is Chief Givens satisfied at just complaining about the new laws, at getting his opinion printed in the paper and leaving it at that? Oh no, you know he can't just leave it at that:

The first licenses to carry concealed handguns will be issued by the Kansas Department of Revenue on Jan. 2, 2007. After that, it will be impossible to know who is, "packing heat," and who isn't.

"It's a giant step backwards," Givens said.

Givens has been asking local businesses to post signs that forbid anyone from bringing in a concealed gun. The signs can be obtained from the police department or downloaded from www.ksag.org/Concealed_Weapon/Concealed_Carry_Update.htm

You did read that correctly. The chief is going around to local businesses and asking them to post their businesses as off limits to folks who have a concealed carry license. I will just about bet he is also doing it on the tax payers dime.

I wonder if the chief explained to the businesses that folks who obtain permits are usually in a higher income bracket than the average, that they have undergone background checks that prove no criminal history, and that by denying entry to these people, the business is turning away potential quality customers? I kind of doubt it.

So far, several businesses have posted the signs, including The Brown Store, Stage, the Traveler and Picture This TV & Radioshack.

Picture This was one of the first Ark City businesses to post the sign. Owner Danny Thompson said Givens asked him if he would put a sign in his window and he agreed. But he said he really doesn't feel strongly about it.

"I've also got a poster right underneath (the concealed-carry sign) for someone who's starting up a program to get licensed to carry concealed weapons," Thompson said.

He said the program would be offered soon for women who want to be certified to carry a handgun.

Thompson doesn't have a strong opinion on the issue, but, "If someone's going to carry a gun in here, I'd kind of like to know it."

Mr. Thompson, that is the whole idea behind "concealed carry". If you do not know a customer is carrying, neither does the criminal who is casing your place of business. All a "no legally carried firearms allowed" sign does is inform goblins that your business is a safe place to rob.

Having a "no guns" sign above a "concealed carry program" sign is just beautiful. I would really like a picture of that window for my own amusement.

And more on the "how are you going to know"?

Troy Ebert of The Brown Store said he's not sure how much good posting the sign will do. He opposes the law.

"I realize it's a right we have as citizens but it's a little frightening and intimidating to think that someone is walking around with a concealed weapon," he said. "If they're concealed, how are you going to know?"

It is obvious that the gun rights folks in Kansas have their work cut out for them. Educating the public takes a bit of time and effort. It will not be long before the "no guns" signs come down and concealed carry becomes just a fact of life.

This article did contain a bright side or two:

Kasha Kelley won't put the sign outside her business, First Intermark on South Summit. Kelley, the 79th District state representative, voted for the law and defends it.

Businesses need to think twice before posting the sign.

"If you do post that sign, what are you telling criminals -- 'This is a gun-free zone.' It's something to really think about."

She said most of her constituents supported the law and some were very vocal in favor of it. Kansas was one of a handful of states that did not allow citizens to carry a weapon hidden from view.

"There are a lot of restrictions," she said of the Kansas law. "It was very, very carefully considered before it was written up."

Fear of gun crime increasing is not supported by the experience of concealed carry in other states, she said.

"In fact, if a criminal doesn't know whether or not you're carrying, they're not as likely to attack you," Kelley said. "That's been shown over and over again. "

One part of the new law that needs to be reviewed and deleted is this fall back to the times of Jim Crow laws:

The local police chief or sheriff can also weigh in, Givens said. If they have reason to believe a person should not receive a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

I do not know just how much weight will be afforded the opinion of the chiefs, but that is an area wide open for abuse. If a chief does not think that blacks, or gays, or women, or any group should not carry, he could potentially infringe upon their application process.

I found this article over at Shooting the Messenger.