Kevin Price
Conservatives should regulate "gun free zones" out of existence
By Kevin Price
Liberals have been masters of permitting businesses, institutions, etc. to "do" things, while at the same time taxing and regulating them to the point that those activities are no longer profitable. Most familiar with the energy industry are aware of how Obama boasts about the large number of drilling permits that are "out there," but companies choose not to use them. Costly regulations that mitigate any chance of profits will have that affect on people.
Now the nation is dealing with terrible crimes like what happened at the Sandy Hook Elementary school, leading to the death of 20 small children and several adults, and are trying to determine a sensible policy going forward. Somehow, those on the Left have concluded that Sandy Hook happened because of restrictive gun laws, yet Connecticut and schools in that state have among the most stringent requirements in the country. In spite of that, liberals are advocating more gun control.
The reality is, "gun free zones" (like Sandy Hook) are warm invitations to evil individuals with perverse intentions. If a person wants to kill the largest number of individuals with the least amount of interference, the best place to go would be a "gun free zone." The only way this is going to change is if we change the perception of such zones. Instead of being institutions that are under protected (and most cases, unprotected) that depend on the best intentions of law abiding citizens to be safe, they need to become places that those who would do harm, know they will face violent resistance.
Newly elected Congressman Steve Stockman (R-TX) has introduced a bill to simply prohibit any institution from being able to call them a "gun free zone." This, he argues, isn't only because the current law is an infringement of the Second Amendment of the Constitution, but because it is dangerous. Again, places where criminals know that there will not be guns are places they want to go to in order to commit crimes. It is common sense.
However, in this culture where common sense is held in such low regard, policy makers should consider an alternative... require entities that want to be "gun free" to protect themselves. The following are a few of some of the things that could and should be required:
© Kevin Price
January 14, 2013
Liberals have been masters of permitting businesses, institutions, etc. to "do" things, while at the same time taxing and regulating them to the point that those activities are no longer profitable. Most familiar with the energy industry are aware of how Obama boasts about the large number of drilling permits that are "out there," but companies choose not to use them. Costly regulations that mitigate any chance of profits will have that affect on people.
Now the nation is dealing with terrible crimes like what happened at the Sandy Hook Elementary school, leading to the death of 20 small children and several adults, and are trying to determine a sensible policy going forward. Somehow, those on the Left have concluded that Sandy Hook happened because of restrictive gun laws, yet Connecticut and schools in that state have among the most stringent requirements in the country. In spite of that, liberals are advocating more gun control.
The reality is, "gun free zones" (like Sandy Hook) are warm invitations to evil individuals with perverse intentions. If a person wants to kill the largest number of individuals with the least amount of interference, the best place to go would be a "gun free zone." The only way this is going to change is if we change the perception of such zones. Instead of being institutions that are under protected (and most cases, unprotected) that depend on the best intentions of law abiding citizens to be safe, they need to become places that those who would do harm, know they will face violent resistance.
Newly elected Congressman Steve Stockman (R-TX) has introduced a bill to simply prohibit any institution from being able to call them a "gun free zone." This, he argues, isn't only because the current law is an infringement of the Second Amendment of the Constitution, but because it is dangerous. Again, places where criminals know that there will not be guns are places they want to go to in order to commit crimes. It is common sense.
However, in this culture where common sense is held in such low regard, policy makers should consider an alternative... require entities that want to be "gun free" to protect themselves. The following are a few of some of the things that could and should be required:
- A minimum number of police trained (and armed) security. There should be a minimum of at least two or three at each entity and they should have heavier "artillery" available under lock and key. These guards should have sufficient experience.
- Several protective doors with video coverage for people to "process" through a place. These are not cheap, but they are sensible if you are going to claim to be "gun free."
- For some institutions, like schools, allow teachers with concealed hand gun permits to bring them into school under lock and key. These teachers might be required to undergo additional psychiatric testing as part of the approval process.
© Kevin Price
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