Alan Bernstein
SNITCH Contributing Columnist
RE: Commentary: Too many people are packing heat -- why?
(Published 8/02/01, online at http://www.louisville.com/snitchdisplay.html?article=6318)

Mr. Bernstein,

I was very impressed with your commentary regarding concealed carry. Though you are obviously opposed to the concept, you generously offered the reader a very balanced portrayal of the debate surrounding this issue and I sincerely thank you for doing so. However, I would like to add a few comments in an effort to provide a broader understanding of the "penchant for pistols" by law-abiding citizens.

First of all, if this were Detroit, L.A., Baltimore or Philly, the law abiding citizen would not have the opportunity to carry a concealed weapon as the law in those cities does not provide for decent people to effectively protect themselves. This very well could be the reason those particular cities are considered so dangerous. Perhaps if we followed their lead, we would see the same effect here. Through simple logic we can assume that the average criminal is of average intelligence. From that we can postulate that the average criminal knows that there is a direct correlation between the eventuality of serious injury or death while engaging in his trade and the increase in concealed carry amongst his likely victims. The U.S. Department of Justice supports this theory with "The Armed Criminal in America: A Survey of Incarcerated Felons," (U.S., Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Research Report, (July 1985): 27). The report found that 57% of felons polled agreed, "criminals are more worried about meeting an armed victim than they are about running into the police". It is my belief that concealed carry makes everyone safer because the predator must now expend more time and energy cautiously seeking out his targets of opportunity. As a result, this means fewer crimes committed which allows police to spend more resources on each incident of crime, thereby increasing their effectiveness.

Major Jackson, Deputy Director of Jefferson County EMS, pointed out that it is not the concealed carry permit holder that causes problems for EMS. His life experience is corroborated by the Courier Journal, which reported, "permit holders are less likely to be charged with violent crimes than the population at large" (Concealed-gun law hasn't triggered violence - Crime rate among licensed carriers has been very low, By Andrew Wolfson, July 24, 2000 http://www.courierjournal.com/localnews/2000/0007/24/000724gun.html ). Hopefully, Snitch will publish the details of the latest figures available for it's readers to review.

Your conclusion that "more folks are just plain afraid" being "the common thread" is a rather simplistic assessment. I chose to apply for a permit because I see it as a responsibility to provide for the defense of my family and myself and if necessary, my fellow citizens. The police do their job better than can be expected but you must first understand what that job is. The courts routinely find that the police are not responsible for your safety. In Warren v. District of Columbia, the court stated, "courts have without exception concluded that when a municipality or other governmental entity undertakes to furnish police services, it assumes a duty only to the public at large and not to individual members of the community" (D.C. App., 444 A. 2d 1 (1981)). Police are rarely at the scene during the crime, most often, they come only after they are called. It is inconceivable that we taxpayers could ever support a police force large enough to provide individuals impenetrable security.

Feeling safe is a matter of perspective. I feel safe because I practice to be safe and I know there are 60,000 others out there that have learned safe procedures regarding firearms and the applicable laws pertaining to civil and criminal liability. I would much rather trust these people with my life than some criminal. Let us not forget, without legal concealed carry, only the criminal would be armed. It is my conclusion that the odds are a bit more favorable now.