Concealed guns critic overlooks hard evidence

Beverly Miller’s “Ozark Voices” column of March 26 (“We cannot risk concealed handgun law”) was a pathetic attempt to defend the indefensible positions of the gun control lobby. Even if her arguments were true, they would be overwhelmed by the mountain of evidence showing that concealed-carry laws reduce crime and do not lead to the disastrous consequences she decries.

Jim Lucas

Miller claims that concealed-carry laws increase children’s access to guns, but offers no supporting evidence. One could argue that children can only access guns when they are not being carried by a responsible adult. Any connection between concealed-carry laws and gun crime by children exists strictly in Miller’s mind. There is not one shred of statistical evidence to support this argument. If there were, Handgun Control Inc. would be waving it in our faces.

Next, Miller attempts to use FBI crime statistics to support her argument. Notice she has selectively cited only one year, 1997-98, for her evidence. Most states with concealed-carry laws have had them in place for many years, and their crime rates already had declined considerably before the limited time period she cites. Therefore, when a general decrease in crime came about nationwide (due to changes in demographics unrelated to gun laws), states with the lowest crime rates recorded the smallest percentage improvements; states with highest crime rates showed the greatest improvement, but still have crime rates higher than those with concealed-carry laws.

Miller then argues that since police officers “frequently lose control of their firearms,” citizens would be subject to the same risk. Police officers are required to pursue fleeing criminals and apprehend them using less-than-deadly force if possible. Private citizens are under no such obligation. In the vast majority of cases when citizens use guns in self-defense, they simply show their guns, and the criminals run away — end of story.

Next, Miller argues that armed citizens would lack the training and judgment to use firearms appropriately. There has never been a case of a citizen with a concealed-carry permit being convicted of murder or manslaughter.

Regarding the 1999 vote on Proposition B, Miller should be aware that this measure carried in the majority of Missouri counties, and was defeated only in a few counties in and around Kansas City and St. Louis. We have allowed people in the most crime-ridden areas in the state to dictate policy to the rest of us. Let us pass a concealed-carry law, and let them opt out if they choose.

Jim Lucas, Carthage, is an inventor.