KS editorial: "thousands" of TX CHL criminals

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KBCraig
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KS editorial: "thousands" of TX CHL criminals

#1

Post by KBCraig »

In reference to:

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/e ... 927305.htm

This writer really needs to take better lessons in spin. She gets part of it right, where she says, "thousands of Texas concealed-carry licensees -- people who passed background checks -- later committed crimes including murder, kidnapping, rape and impersonating a police officer". Not that those crimes had anything to do with CHL, and she failed to mention that "thousands of crimes" can include traffic violations. On that count alone, I broke the law several times today. But still, she did a decent job of spinning it to sound like thousands of Texas CHLs have committed violent felonies like murder, kidnapping, and rape.

Here's where she fails in her spin: "Of the states that have passed these laws, many do not reciprocate, such as Oklahoma. In fact, it was the lack of reciprocity with New York that permitted Tim McVeigh to be arrested as he was trying to escape after mass murder in Oklahoma City. The highway patrolman saw a pistol in his car, and McVeigh said that he had a New York license for it. 'That's no good here,' the patrolman said, and arrested him. He had no clue that McVeigh was a terrorist. Explain again the value of permitting reciprocity?"

Oklahoma didn't have a statewide must-issue license in 1995, when McVeigh was caught. But they passed one soon afterwards, and they now recognize 45 licenses, including New York State and New York City.

The complete editorial:

Posted on Wed, Feb. 22, 2006
Concealed weapons aren't worth the risk
BY KELLY W. JOHNSTON

There are three major safety problems with the concealed-carry bill under consideration in Topeka.

First, this bill will "reciprocate" with the 46 other states that allow concealed weapons. Why are we willing to open our borders to weapons licensees without even requiring them to register their entry into the state with the KBI?

Two states don't even issue licenses and do not conduct background checks -- Alaska and Vermont. How will licensees from New Jersey know where the no-gun zones are in Kansas?

Of the states that have passed these laws, many do not reciprocate, such as Oklahoma. In fact, it was the lack of reciprocity with New York that permitted Tim McVeigh to be arrested as he was trying to escape after mass murder in Oklahoma City. The highway patrolman saw a pistol in his car, and McVeigh said that he had a New York license for it. "That's no good here," the patrolman said, and arrested him. He had no clue that McVeigh was a terrorist. Explain again the value of permitting reciprocity?

Another safety problem is that the attorney general will not be allowed to deny a permit to an applicant who passes the background check. Do we not trust law enforcement to protect us from another practicing terrorist who has no criminal record like McVeigh? If another sheriff were to tell Attorney General Phill Kline that there was a concealed-carry license applicant detonating explosives in the backwoods of the county, but that he had no criminal record, would it be smart to give that person a license? Of course not.

Did you know that from 1993 through 2002, 43 percent of people arrested for killing police officers had no previous criminal record? Did you know that thousands of Texas concealed-carry licensees -- people who passed background checks -- later committed crimes including murder, kidnapping, rape and impersonating a police officer?

The attorney general should have the discretion to deny permits to applicants who would otherwise be eligible. It is a myth that only law-abiding citizens will acquire these gun permits.

Finally, the current bill does not impose higher criminal penalties for multiple convictions of carrying a concealed weapon while drunk. There is no provision for revocation of a permit if convicted once, twice or 20 times for being drunk while carrying a concealed weapon in public.

If the bill by Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, was instead about driving a car while drunk, he would be laughed and scolded out of office. Why isn't his concealed-carry bill being laughed out of the Capitol for the same reasons? Are drunks with firearms on public streets somehow safer than drunks driving cars?

Senate Bill 418 does not care enough about simple public safety to deserve to be passed. Legislators who are supposed to be protecting public safety should not vote for a law with these kinds of safety problems.

Kelly W. Johnston of Wichita is chairman of Safe State Kansas.
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stevie_d_64
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#2

Post by stevie_d_64 »

I am not surprised...

"Kelly W. Johnston of Wichita is chairman of Safe State Kansas."

And where do they get off stating this???

"...requiring them to register their entry into the state with the KBI?"

uggg, same ole stuff, different day...

Ahhh, but of course I see they are a spin-off group of "Join Together"...
"Perseverance and Preparedness triumph over Procrastination and Paranoia every time.” -- Steve
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