Conceal carry: "You'll have to leave that in the car"

Does it strike you as ironic (tragic may be a better word) that the locations chosen for mass murders by gunmen are places that citizens are not permitted to carry concealed weapons themselves?


Many theaters ban those who have a concealed handgun license (CHL) from doing so on their premises.


Colleges and universities ban those who have a CHL from doing so on their premises.


So, too, hospitals.


Such folks cannot carry on the grounds of public education, elementary through high school.


The only mass murder in Texas in recent memory occurred on, of all places, a military installation (Fort Hood) where it is--you guessed it--illegal to carry. Let's see, when I flew the F-16, I was entrusted to take off carrying 500 rounds of live 20mm ammunition and 4000 pounds of high explosives and to not drop them on an American city, but I can't carry my 9mm with me on base???


I agree that not just anyone should be allowed to tote a weapon into these locations, but for those who have been through the screening and the training, I'm at a loss for why folks cannot carry in these places?


There are two locations here in Texas that I somewhat understand and can abide when it comes to banning firearms.  One is in establishments where liquor accounts for over 51% of the sales. You wouldn't want some guy getting all liquored up and bandying his .45 about lamenting Leona Mae's leaving him. The other is in stadium events where security is already very tight. And in reality, a case could be made for carrying in those locations, too.


The tidbit of logic that seems to escape the gun-controllers is that when guns are banned in a particular location, the only people who won't tote a gun into that place are law abiding citizens. A "NO GUNS ALLOWED" sign isn't going to slow a crook or a nut job for a picosecond, and then you've just opened up the folks therein, those you were trying to protect in the first place, to criminal mischief.

A few years back, while visiting my mom in Wisconsin, we stopped by an A & W Root Beer diner. It happened to be the week that Wisconsin began its foray into CHL life. Needless to say, the lefties around Madison were coming unglued.


On the door of the A & W of all places was a very legal "no guns allowed" sign. While we drowned ourselves in icy cold, on-tap root beer, I took the opportunity to chat with the manager.


"I saw your sign banning folks from carrying firearms into your establishment."


"Yes, sir," she responded.


"Do you understand that folks who have a CHL have to go through training and a background check to be able to carry their weapon?"


"No sir, I didn't," she answered honestly.


"Do you understand that law-abiding folks, when they see your sign, will respect the wishes of your establishment and leave their guns in their vehicles, but that sign will do absolutely nothing to thwart criminals from toting their .357 into your establishment and robbing you blind?"


"Um..."


"Did you know that the only reason I carry is to protect my family from harm, and that your sign prevents me from doing that and potentially from protecting any of your customers from harm?"


"Gee, sir, I hadn't thought of it that way. The owners of the establishment had those signs put up but I will pass on to them your concerns.  Thank you."


"My pleasure," for it truly was.


Is it really that hard? CHL folks aren't looking for the first opportunity to pull a John Wayne and start shooting up the place. You see, John never did that. Bad guys do that. John Wayne pulled his gun when the bad guys pulled theirs (like this).


If anything, the nightmare in Aurora should ease the constraints upon those who carry and not further restrict them. Further restrictions will only delight the thugs and endanger the citizens.


That's dumber than rocks.