by Kurt Amesbury, J.D.
(In response to Minnesota PioneerPlanet letter to the editor)

March 25, 2001

Axel Boldt's proposal ("Whose rights are being protected or violated with concealed carry?") that persons carrying firearms should be compelled to wear a "bright-orange plainly visible holster" is one of those good ideas that seems facetious at first glance.

Actually, the idea is not new, having been set out in a somewhat different form by science fiction writer, Robert Heinlein. Heinlein's characters are divided into two groups: Full citizens who go armed and wear brassards; and non-combatants who are unarmed and wear no marking. The former are full, free, sovereign citizens; the latter, subservients of inferior status who lack the will to fight for themselves (or much of anything else for that matter).

Were such a standard to be adopted in our society, everyone, including criminals, would know at a glance who was armed and able to fight back. At present, criminals have difficulty discriminating because weapons are concealed. Making it clear would have the advantage of ensuring that criminals would only attack the category of victim they prefer. Under Mr. Boldt's plan, it would then be most interesting to see which group criminals would choose: Those who are clearly armed, or those who are plainly defenseless. The minuscule number of criminals who seek confrontation with armed police officers foreshadows the expected result.

Kurt Amesbury, J.D.
KABA National States Director