Gun restrictions hurt law-abiding citizens

A federal concealed weapons permit regulation, involving reciprocity from one state to another, is currently being debated in the U.S. House of Representatives. One female member took advantage of the moment to veer off into a rant that implied we should not have guns of any kind, only the authorities would have guns, and, presto, gun crime would disappear. The “I believe in the tooth fairy is real syndrome” kicks in again.

The people who plan to stick up convenience stores or do a home invasion and robbery, do not walk into a store and buy a gun. They obtain their weapons through other channels. There is a viable black market for guns.

Once again the law-abiding citizen is affected, but not the criminal. Ah, Washington, will you ever just knock it off? Probably not. Most politicians will vote for anything that gets them votes and so the beat goes on. Even minus the crime, the “only the authorities will have guns concept” should make us all uneasy.

Gary Sargent

Cedar Rapids