Drizzt
April 15, 2003, 05:26 PM
The Times Union (Albany, NY)
April 11, 2003 Friday ONE STAR EDITION
SECTION: MAIN, Pg. A12
LENGTH: 302 words
HEADLINE: Legally armed folks protect, prevent crime
BYLINE: Norbert Quenzer Jr. Delmar
BODY:
A recent article in the Times Union "Councilman calls for gun task force" brings to mind two proven common sense approaches to reducing crime. First, get the illegal guns away from the criminals. Secondly, encourage and support the right of law-abiding citizens to own and carry concealed handguns for personal protection.
New York state needs to follow the lead of more than 30 other states in the nation that have "shall issue" laws that allow unrestricted concealed handgun carry. These states have overwhelmingly seen a reduction in violent crime following the passage of such laws.
Required background checks, FBI finger printing, character references and training have prevented the "wild west" scenarios that many had envisioned with civilians carrying concealed weapons.
Most gun owners strongly support the police efforts to rid the streets of illegal guns and to harshly punish those who use guns in the course of committing crimes. At the same time many people recognize the important and significant role that private gun ownership plays in the protection of law-abiding citizens in this state and our nation.
According to a definitive study by Gary Kleck, criminology professor at Florida State University, legal gun owners use a gun in the protection of themselves, their family or their property approximately 2.4 million times per year. This number is staggering. Unfortunately, the media neglects to report that guns save lives and on a very significant scale each year.
Police agencies and politicians alike have come to acknowledge the important role armed citizens play in the prevention of violent crime.
So yes, take the guns out of the hands of criminals. But don't deny or restrict the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their loved ones.
April 11, 2003 Friday ONE STAR EDITION
SECTION: MAIN, Pg. A12
LENGTH: 302 words
HEADLINE: Legally armed folks protect, prevent crime
BYLINE: Norbert Quenzer Jr. Delmar
BODY:
A recent article in the Times Union "Councilman calls for gun task force" brings to mind two proven common sense approaches to reducing crime. First, get the illegal guns away from the criminals. Secondly, encourage and support the right of law-abiding citizens to own and carry concealed handguns for personal protection.
New York state needs to follow the lead of more than 30 other states in the nation that have "shall issue" laws that allow unrestricted concealed handgun carry. These states have overwhelmingly seen a reduction in violent crime following the passage of such laws.
Required background checks, FBI finger printing, character references and training have prevented the "wild west" scenarios that many had envisioned with civilians carrying concealed weapons.
Most gun owners strongly support the police efforts to rid the streets of illegal guns and to harshly punish those who use guns in the course of committing crimes. At the same time many people recognize the important and significant role that private gun ownership plays in the protection of law-abiding citizens in this state and our nation.
According to a definitive study by Gary Kleck, criminology professor at Florida State University, legal gun owners use a gun in the protection of themselves, their family or their property approximately 2.4 million times per year. This number is staggering. Unfortunately, the media neglects to report that guns save lives and on a very significant scale each year.
Police agencies and politicians alike have come to acknowledge the important role armed citizens play in the prevention of violent crime.
So yes, take the guns out of the hands of criminals. But don't deny or restrict the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their loved ones.