We have right to protect ourselves, guns or not

Why does lobbyist Susan Cameron fear that an Iowa castle doctrine will cause shootouts in the streets? Does she have any real data showing this from other castle doctrine states or is this the standard alarmism trotted out for any gun-related bill that isn't asking for further restrictions?

Current law states we already have the right to protect ourselves in the places we're supposed to be. Don't think for a second that every instance isn't reviewed by the police already. So what's the problem with ensuring criminals can't file civil lawsuits over injuries obtained from honest citizens defending themselves in their home? That has absolutely zero to do with a “Wild West” mentality.

Have the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association and Iowa County Attorneys Association forgotten whose side they're supposed to be on?

I'd also like to know why the Feb. 13 Gazette story shows a large picture of an AR-15 made by a local company, yet the second line of caption talks about the increase in concealed weapon permits since 2008. Seems pretty sloppy, unless the intent was to scare the uninformed by implying concealed carry permits mean people will be walking around with military-looking rifles.

Sean Krause

Cedar Rapids