On Thursday, July 29, 2010 Arizona Senate Bill 1108 becomes law. The new law recognizes Arizonan's constitutional right to keep and bear arms - specifically, it allows people in Arizona legally to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. I agree with the new law because it upholds the spirit of the US Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. There are several conclusions we can consider with the new Arizona law. I also would extend a warning to those who are considering carrying a concealed gun.
1) Arizona's old right to concealed carry law coincides with reduced violent crime in Arizona.
Does concealed carry reduce crime? The case can be argued, especially with the recent drop in violent crime in Washington, DC after the Heller case allowed DC residents to arm themselves and in comparison with nearby Virginia's sharply reduced violent crime rate. Virginia allows concealed carry. The point is, that despite what anti-gun advocates have said all these years, legally arming the population doesn't increase crime and may actually reduce it.
In fact, when we look at places like Washington, DC or Chicago, where these cities had strict handgun bans, violent crime skyrocketed during the years of gun control laws. Anti-gun advocates, when confronted with the facts, always take the liberal approach to such problems and declare that the reason for the failure isn't in the basic anti-gun ideology, but rather because the gun laws don't go far enough. It's the old anti-pragmatist approach that keeps throwing money at a problem in the hopes that some limit will be met to fix the problem.
Noteworthy in the liberal answer was Chicago's mayor, Richard Daley's response to a reporter who asked him the question "Given the number of shootings in the city, isn't the handgun ban ineffective?"
Daley, a stanch anti-gun advocate responded by picking up a police-confiscated rifle (not a handgun, by the way) and rebutted with the clever: "If I put his up your butt...you'll find out how effective this is! If I put a round up you _ _ _." (Wayne LaPierre, "Standing Guard," American Rifleman, August 2010, pg. 12)
2) Criminals don't pay attention to gun laws anyway.
The phrase "when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns" is clichéd, but nonetheless true. The reason gun bans don't work in the US stems from the simple fact that most law-abiding citizens will obey the laws. Criminals will continue to break the laws and carry guns despite the law.
I suppose in a pipe-dream utopia, we might succeed in disarming all the people in the United States, but then run the substantial risk of coming under the control of a totalitarian government. While this may be the goal of some, I fail to see the appeal in a system not based on the fundamental rights of its citizens, especially the right to keep and bear arms in self-defense.
3) Don't expect a huge increase in the numbers of people carrying guns.
While the numbers of people who will carry a concealed weapon will increase, I don't think the dire predictions of the anti-gun advocates, that rampant and lawless gun carrying, will happen in Arizona. Consider, the citizens who carry concealed guns by permit will continue to carry weapons. A small, but significant number of citizens already carry a concealed weapon without a permit. Most citizens don't have any desire to carry a concealed gun.
I predict that of those who will start to carry a concealed gun because of the new law, many, if not most will give up the practice after a short while simply because of the inconvenience. Let's face it, carrying a gun around - all the time - and concealed on the body or in a bag, is quite inconvenient. Some will carry a gun in their car (which many do anyway in Arizona) and leave it at that. Very few will stick with the sheer inconvenience of carrying a concealed weapon all the time.
That said, I want to offer a warning, yes, a warning to those who are considering concealed carry.
1) Take gun safety training anyway.
While you won't need to take any training to carry a concealed weapon anymore, I strongly encourage you to take gun safety training. Guns are tools, albeit deadly ones. Treat guns with respect and they will serve you in the purpose they were intended, to help defend you in a deadly situation.
2) Shoot at the range. All the time.
One of the scariest (yes, scariest) things I can think of is someone buying a gun, strapping it on, and feeling secure in having a gun with them, at the same time never having fired the gun. You must know how to fire your gun, not just any gun, the gun you just bought to carry with you. For example, I much prefer shooting a full-size 9 mm or S&W 40 or even a .45 ACP to shooting a .38 Special revolver with a 3" barrel. Why? Because the little revolver kicks like a mule and muzzle flash burns my hand. Hence, I carry a larger gun. I like shooting it at the range and am comfortable with it.
If you're not used to shooting your gun, get used to it. Shoot it at the range. Go to the range regularly to get the feel of the gun. And take the time to learn how to shoot your gun accurately.
3) Take a tactical shooting class.
There's a world of difference between shooting a handgun at the range and drawing and shooting under pressure of deadly contact. Take a tactical shooting class to become familiar with stance, drawing, aiming, and firing. Learn how to take cover. Learn how to double tap. Learn how to reload. Especially learn how to stay away from a bad situations.
4) Take the responsibility seriously.
Carrying a concealed weapon means that you have a responsibility to keep and use the right to bear arms in a grown-up and responsible manner. Don't take the decision to carry a weapon lightly. When you carry a handgun you have the onus to recognize a potentially dangerous situation, to protect yourself and those around you.
Remember that if you should ever draw and fire a weapon in self defense, you will be responsible for the consequences of your actions. If you shoot yourself accidentally, you'll wind up with a large and messy hole in your body. If you shoot your friend accidentally, you'll go to jail. If you shoot an innocent bystander, you'll go to jail. If you shoot a dangerous perp, you'll be the hero.
5) Get a proper holster.
Do not ever stuff a gun in your pocket or down your pants. That's a one way ticket to disaster. Get a proper concealed carry holster, making sure you can actually wear the thing. Comfortable holsters are your best friend when carrying a gun. Here's a holster I can recommend from Crossbreed. If you carry a handgun in your purse or bag, get a good holster that covers the muzzle of the gun.
6) Learn the law.
Just because Arizona's new law allows you to carry a concealed gun without a permit or training, be sure you know and understand Arizona's other laws regarding firearms. Here are a few things to consider:
- If a police officer asks if you are carrying a gun, you must let him or her know you are concealing a handgun.
- There are places you cannot carry a concealed weapon, despite the Arizona law including (but not limited to): bars, school campuses, police stations, and many government buildings.
Take care out there and enjoy and respect the new constitutional carry law.
News Feature: East Valley Tribune - Arizona Local News.
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