For self-defense

I'd like to commend John A. Dvorak on printing the facts about the concealed-weapons debate (2/28, A-1, "As movement spreads, Kansas and Missouri return to gun debate").

Yes, Missouri and Kansas are two of only six states that do not allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons, and yes, as written by Mr. Dvorak, "The nightmare scenarios that antigun activists warned about -- Dodge City-style shootouts between those legally carrying guns -- haven't happened in states that approved concealed weapons."

Although the anti-gun rights groups and the editorial page staff at The Star have every right to oppose concealed-carry laws because they just don't "like" the idea, I hope to explain why I am so passionate about regaining this right.

It has to do with what our Founding Fathers referred to as certain inalienable rights endowed by our creator. Nearly every living creature was created with (or has evolved) some method for defending itself. Why is it that only humans are stupid (or naive) enough to legislate that right away?

Scott Yerganian
Lee's Summit

National law needed

I just happened on John Dvorak's article on the spread of concealed-carry laws. I am used to anti-gun bias seen in big-town papers. It's good to see a well-balanced story in a big-town paper.

The majority of states have right-to-carry laws. Studies show that crime rates, especially violent crime rates, in those states are lower than the more restrictive states. They also show that licensed firearms carriers are statistically more law-abiding than the rest of society.

It is long past the time when we should have had a national right-to-carry law, one that says if you are licensed to carry in your home state, your license will be honored in all jurisdictions in the United States.

The law would ...

1. Begin to cut violent crime: The bad guys won't know who will be able to defend themselves.

2. Prevent terrorist attacks, such as happened in Israel recently when a woman stopped a terrorist bomb attack by shooting the terrorist before he could set it off.

I'm not promoting wild-eyed vigilantism. Remember, the overwhelming majority of licensed firearms carriers are mature, responsible people. We simply want to be able to be safe wherever we may travel in our country.

Hugh Coombs
Hallstead, Pa.