Concealed Carry in the United States

In 1987, Florida became the first state to issue licenses to private citizens authorizing them to carry concealed firearms. Not only did Florida issue licenses, but the law specifically mandated that the state "shall issue" a license to anyone who was qualified. This meant that the state could not prevent a qualified US citizen from receiving a license to carry if he had passed the criminal background check and met all safety and training requirements.

Dire predictions of shootouts at high noon, blood in the streets, gun battles over disputed parking spots, and general road rage shootings were issued by the news media claiming Florida would regress to the Wild West Days of yore. In fact they re-named Florida; the Gunshine State! And guess what happened?

Nothing.

The reason these dire predictions did not materalize is because those persons who were issued licenses were and still are among the most honest and law abiding on the planet. Since Florida led the way, 47 other states now have concealed carry laws.

In no state has this ever been a problem to anyone except maybe a bad ass who got a rude surprise when he accosted a seemingly defenseless young woman or a doddering old man. A person can now carry legally not only in his home state, but in all other states that honor his state's law. (see www.handgunlawus.com) And there are several states, like Florida, that issue non resident licenses! More about this will be coming in future columns.

Let's back up here and look at the origin of concealed carry, specifically the racist origin of disallowing concealed carry. When word of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation arrived in Galveston more than two years after the signing, (this is known as Juneteenth Day in Texas) free men and women of color were finally given the right to go out on their own and seek their fortunes. Although the news arrived late, this in itself was a very good thing. Hundreds of families set out for the north to homestead land and live free; limited only by the amount of work they were willing to invest. At last, the freedom they sought was at hand.

But a real problem developed here in the form of roving gangs of vigilantes, thugs, the Ku Klux Klan, and other nefarious groups who preyed upon the unarmed families. At this time the freedmen were not even allowed to own a firearm, much less carry one for self defense. This was a privilege reserved only for White America.

But the freedmen armed themselves anyway, because...they had to! They had no choice! What would you have done in their place? They concealed their firearms under shirts, jackets, and coats. When the gangs attacked, they were met by equal force and had to flee. This went on for only a short while until local laws and ordinances were quickly passed making the carrying of concealed weapons illegal by the freedmen.

So who passed these laws? Southerners. White Southerners. White Southern Democrats; which begs the question; why does Black America continue to this day to support these racists? Beats me.

But for our discussion, it is enough to point out that forbidding the carrying of concealed weapons has deep racist roots that can not be disputed.

Today there are only two states that do not allow private citizens to obtain a license to carry a concealed firearm. These states are Illinois and Wisconsin. Remember that while these states do not allow a private citizen the means to protect himself, neither do they step in to protect him!! Is that not hypocrisy?

Of the 48 states that do issue licenses, 9 of these are "may issue" as opposed to "shall issue", but this trend is changing. As home invasions increase, so do the number of license holders. It's a matter of time before these last two states are brought kicking and screaming into the fold.

Complimenting this surge in the number of license holders are the number of excellent schools that teach defensive pistol skills. These programs provide basic and advanced instruction with a firearm that puts the private citizen at least on a par with a Police Academy graduate and most schools go far beyond that level. Some that come to mind are The Chapman Academy in Missouri, Thunder Ranch in Oregon, Gun Site in Arizona, Front Sight in Nevada, and many others. Simply search for them on the Internet.

The civilian graduates of these fine programs actually train and compete with active Law Enforcement Officers in classes taught by LEO's! After completion of the courses, they continue to practice on their own as well as participating in local monthly competitions using realistic scenarios that prepare the armed citizen to reject home invasions, car jackings, and multiple threats. He also learns how to protect his family and survive public shootings by the deranged criminal population.

Wanna see this in action? Attend your local range where IDPA and USPSA events are taking place. Search for them on the Internet or call your local gun shop. Your eyes will be opened!

Recently, on Monday, February 22, 2010, concealed carry was re-instated in our National Parks where it had been removed last year by, yep, you guessed it, our old friends, the Liberal Democrats!

Pretty soon now, criminals must come to grips with the sad fact that their victims are no longer helpless. Intended victims will be like the freedmen; totally prepared to fight back with greater shooting skill sets, real fangs, and sharp claws.

When this happens, license holders will have a significant advantage by virtue of advanced training and practical experience. Criminals, along with defense attorneys, counselers and parole officers, will be forced to find real jobs. Newspaper writers will be relegated to merely preparing obituary columns for the lower life forms that used to ride roughshod over decent folk.

Remember all the dire predictions? Criminals were romantically referred to as 'expert gunmen' while a father teaching his son to shoot was ridiculed as an irresponsible parent. Pointed question; where does a criminal go to learn advanced self defense pistol tactics and become an 'expert gunman'?? I submit the real nut jobs are the reporters themselves! I don't refer to reporters as jounalists anymore because they are not journalists; they are propagandists!

When criminals stop their evil ways, Congress should then issue a new Emancipation Proclamation! But lest we forget, this problem started with the White Southern Democrats. Remember that when you vote.

And...hey! Let's be careful out there.

PB