The Virginia Tech massacre may have spurred some state legislators to increase, rather than decrease the range of places where law abiding citizens are legally allowed to carry their concealed weapons. Tennessee is considering allowing concealed carry in state parks.
Tennesseans who have handgun permits could carry their weapons into state parks legally under a bill on the move in the legislature, and its chances of passing are greater in light of the Virginia Tech massacre, one of its sponsors said.
Interesting to note that the Tennessean found a woman who a) was firing a handgun in their photo, and b) thought guns shouldn’t be in state parks. I wonder how many interviews they had to conduct to get that answer. Their online poll says 77% of the voters think handguns should be allowed in Tennessee state parks.
South Carolina legislators are putting forth a measure to allow concealed carry on campuses.
Some South Carolina lawmakers believe allowing people to carry concealed weapons on school campuses could prevent massacres like last month’s slayings at Virginia Tech. Nearly 20 lawmakers have signed on to a measure that would allow concealed weapons on public school and college campuses. If signed in to law, South Carolina would join Utah as the only states that have laws allowing people to carry hidden weapons on campuses.
Perhaps there is still hope for common sense in our society. Maybe more people are realizing that restricting responsible, law abiding citizens from carrying weapons does nothing to reduce the levels of violence in our society while creating new victims for criminals. My concealed carry permit is valid in Tennessee and Georgia, so I’ll watch the developments with interest.
There is always time to reiterate that problems with violence are cultural. Vermont allows concealed carry with or without a permit. When is the last time you remember thinking, "Gosh, Vermont sure is pretty, but they have all that violence, so we’re not going there for vacation." People will use whatever tools are available, to carry out whatever schemes live inside their memebox (the human brain).
Hat tip: Alphecca