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Lies
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See Don Dycus' letter to the Star refuting some of this editorial insanity; and Jeff Cantwell's letter with a clarity of vision unequalled by the Star's editorial crew; and Frank Brady's refuting the “permit” comment.

Holden needs to get tough on hidden guns

Date: 03/16/01 22:00

It should come as no surprise that Missouri lawmakers are considering several bills this year supported by gun-rights activists. Among the bills are ones that would authorize carrying concealed weapons. 

There have always been a significant number of Missouri lawmakers who mistake the Show-Me State for a throwback to the wild wild West, but their numbers apparently have increased this year, and they are not restricted to one political party.

In recent years the late Gov. Mel Carnahan made it clear that any concealed-carry bill that was shipped to his office was dead on arrival. His successor, Gov. Bob Holden, also a Democrat, campaigned on his opposition to concealed firearms.

But now Holden is retreating from his campaign pledges. He said last week he was willing to consider signing a concealed-weapons bill.

In a meeting with the Editorial Board of The Kansas City Star this week, Holden ducked, bobbed and weaved when questioned about his stance on concealed guns.

"Our philosophical issues (on guns) are not different from Carnahan's," the governor said. But he refused to say he would veto a concealed-carry measure.

"My focus is how we ensure the safety of our citizens of Missouri," the governor added. He went on to say that more than 100 members of the House of Representatives support one type of concealed weapons or another, and the Senate is controlled by Republicans who traditionally support gun rights.

He said he could not afford to get into a fight with legislators over guns because they might have enough votes to force their measure into law over his objections.

Some fights are worth waging because they are just and they help define who is willing to stand up for proper principles. Carnahan demonstrated that fighting for principles was the right thing to do even if it did cost him some political support. What Carnahan lost on one hand in opposing concealed weapons, he more than made up on the other with voters who appreciated his uncompromising stance in favor of greater citizen safety.

Holden needs to understand that lawmakers always attempt to measure governors in their early months. If he permits the lawmakers to run over him on the guns issue, he is in for a very long four years. As is the state.

Holden should understand that some of the guns legislation making its way toward his desk is short-sighted and senseless. Consider, for example, a proposal by House Majority Leader Wayne Crump that would require 12 hours of "training" to obtain a concealed-weapons permit. The training would require an applicant to hit a silhouette target at least 15 of 50 times from a distance of seven feet.

Wow! That should make us all feel safer.

This newspaper understands that the Second Amendment is an important part of the Constitution. We also understand that the Second Amendment permits citizens to bear arms. It does not, as some of this wrongheaded legislation in Jefferson City appears ready to do, require a proliferation of firearms that will lead to needless death and mayhem.

The governor needs to be on the right side of this issue. And that does not mean increasing the number of people who will be packing pistols everywhere they go.

All content © 2001 Kansas City Star

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