The Right to Carry A Concealed W eapon

1. The Right to Carry A Concealed Weapon By: Brian Childers September 24, 2009

2. The Reasons I Picked this Topic • There has been a lot of conversation concerning the rights to bear arms in the United States of America. A person should have the right to carry a concealed weapon, not only to give people the right to defend themselves, but to prevent problems. • People in the U.S. should be prepared for an emergency or a tragic situation. But people that have mental instability, major drug addictions, or convicted of some serious crimes; should not be allowed to get CWP. • Although an exception should be made for civilians, they shall not carry their concealed weapons on governmental areas.

3. Owensboro, Kentucky - February 1996 • In 1996, state legislators began planning a bill to allow citizens the right to legally carry concealed weapons, but some members of the Daviess County public highly opposed it. • Some Daviess County residents raised concerns that the bill would lead to a lot more gun deaths. • One resident wrote: “Even ‘law-abiding citizens’ can act out of anger and maim or kill someone when they would not otherwise do so if the loaded gun was not available.” • Twelve years after the law went into effect, local law enforcement officials said it did create a Wild West mind set among most citizens. “We haven’t seen anything (from the law) that has changed the way we do business,” said David Thompson, deputy chief of the Owensboro Police Department. David Thompson

4. Last Slide Cont. • Thompson also said, “… We haven’t seen a flood of (gun-related) crimes” since the law was passed. Then again, proponents of the law, including at least one member of Daviess Fiscal Court at the time, claimed giving residents the legal right to carry concealed weapons would prevent crime.” • The law, was approved in 1996, allowing citizens the right to receive a permit to carry a concealed weapon after they pass a background check. The law also requires those applying for a permit to take a class that covers firearms safety and use of force issues.

5. Steps in order to get a concealed weapon permit in VA. • In order to get a concealed weapon permit, you have to: • You must be 21 years old and pass a Defensive Handgun Class which is approved by the circuit court of Virginia. • Contact your local court to obtain a concealed weapon permit application. Submit the completed application, and bring a photo ID such as a driver's license, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. And in some jurisdictions, like (Arlington) they require your fingerprints for their residents. • In close to 45 days, you will receive the permit or be denied the permit. If your permit is not processed within 45 days, the court clerk must issue you a temporary permit good for 90 days or until the permanent one is ready. • In order to keep your permit valid, you have to renew your permit every 5 years. • You are not required to inform a law enforcement officer that you are carrying a concealed weapon. They should know if you have a permit, on their records. • Never carry concealed weapons to bars, churches, schools, or any building that has a sign posted banning firearms on the premises.

6. Weapons that are considered concealed weapons. B. D. A. • A. Blackjack • B. Ballistic knife • C. Bowie knife • D. Razor • E. Dirk • F. Metal knuckles • G. Switchblade knife • H. Machete E. C. G. H. F.

7. Utah’s Concealed Honors httpwww.capitaldefensetraining.comimages-pmutah-concealed-carry-permit.gif

8. Important Events that Occurred in Oklahoma • Oklahoma was among eighteen states that were thinking of or voting on concealed weapons (CCW) laws in 1995 to a later date. After the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma oddly passed a provision that gave adults more protection to carry concealed firearms. • Along with Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Utah, and Virginia passed similar laws. California, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas and New Mexico declined concealed weapons suggestions, and several other states did not decide. • The supporters of the CCW laws claimed they would help reduce crime rates, but people who disapproved the laws, said the laws would promote homicide. And the community-based crime prevention groups, law enforcement, court officials, and business people normally work together to plan crime prevention strategies, like the CCW supporters.

9. Guns on campus, incident in Pittsburgh • Christine Brashier, a student at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) of Pittsburgh wanted to form a gun-rights group at CCAC. • But the college threatened her with disciplinary actions for her efforts, which was reported in the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). She was later reported by administrators, banning her informational pamphlets, ordering her to destroy all copies of them, and told her that further “academic misconduct” would not be accepted. • “CCAC demonstrated a shocking lack of respect for free speech and free association,” Fire President Greg Lukianoff said in a May 27 release, “Across the country, students are increasingly denied the First Amendment right to debate the Second Amendment. • At CCAC, the censorship trend reached a new low.” In April, Christine created pamphlets to distribute to her classmates encouraging them to join her in forming a group of the national Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) organization at CCAC.

10. Last Slide Cont. • The handbill at CCAC states that the group “supports the legalization of concealed carry by licensed individuals on college campuses.” She personally distributed copies of the flyer, which identified her as a “Campus Leader” of the effort to start the chapter. • On April 24, the deans directed her to a meeting, and told her that passing out her non-commercial pamphlets were prohibited as “solicitation.” They told her that trying to “sell” other students on the idea of the organization was prohibited. • Dean Yvonne Burns reportedly said, “You may want to discuss this topic but the college does not, and you cannot make us.” Brashier was then told to end all activities relating to her involvement with the SCCC at CCAC and that such “academic misconduct” would not be tolerated. • This incident is the worst and latest in a significant trend of punishing students for debating the Second Amendment in the wake of the 2007 Virginia Tech shootings.

11. Another Similar Utah’s Concealed Honors Map

12. Obama’s Beliefs

13. QinetiQ spo • The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (the agency that provides, among other things, airport security) has supposedly bought 12 devices from a UK company called QinetiQ that enables security officers to see concealed weapons, even in crowds of people walking fast. • These devices, called SPO threat detection system units, work by tossing very high-frequency waves at a crowd, then using special lenses and detectors to read the reflected radiation. • The result is that concealed objects, such as guns, knives, bombs and iPhones show up as blurry on-screen images. Even though they are be used sort of like a X-Ray machine, these images won't be really detailed -- nor will people be shown as walking skeletons. http://www.therawfeed.compixQinetiQ_spo.jpg

14. Guns that are not allowed unless registered. • Machine guns that are modified by the installation of a sear kit, must be registered. But the registration is not required for the kit itself. Link to video of a fully automatic Glock Pistol.

15. My Opinion • I personally believe people should have the right to get a concealed weapon’s permit, in order to defend themselves, and provide protection in case a tragic situation, like the shooting at Virginia Tech and the September 11 hijackings. • I also agree with the laws that state: The person wanting a permit must pass a Defensive Handgun Class which is approved by the circuit court, and people that fall into the category of mental instability, have major drug addictions, have been convicted of certain serious crimes should not be allowed to receive a concealed weapons permit. And along with these beliefs, I also believe concealed weapons should not be carried on governmental areas.