ZIEGENHORN: CONCEALED WEAPONS BILL WRONG SIGNAL TO KIDS

JEFFERSON CITY -- As the Missouri House of Representatives debated an amendment Wednesday that would permit people 21 and older to carry concealed weapons, Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn's thoughts turned to an old anti-smoking television commercial.

In the commercial a young boy and his father are playing together outside and they sit down, leaning against a tree side by side. The father reaches into his pocket, pulls out a pack of cigarettes, and lights up. He lays the pack of cigarettes on the ground; the boy picks them up and looks admiringly toward his father.

The message of the commercial is that children look up to their parents and learn from them.

Ziegenhorn began to wonder what kind of example parents would be giving children by carrying weapons.

"We sit here as parents and are concerned and outraged by TV reports about problems of guns in schools. But I was always brought up on the idea that adults are supposed to set an example for kids," said Ziegenhorn.

"But what kind of an example do parents give kids if they carry guns. Will kids eventually say, `It's okay to carry a weapon because daddy does?'"

The concealed weapons amendment, which has come up in recent legislative sessions, was added to a bill sponsored by Rep. Brian May, D-St. Louis. May opposes the amendment, and once it was approved killed the bill to prevent further action.

The amendment was approved 95-35 and Ziegenhorn says he was the only Southeast Missouri legislator voting against it. The Sikeston Democrat also knows that most of his constituents probably support the concept.

But in good conscience, Ziegenhorn said he could not bring himself to support it. He contended that guns give people a false sense of security. "I don't believe in making a guy who is 5-8 feel like he's 6-4 because he's got a gun."

"I guess I am really voting against my constituency on this one, but I just have a strong feeling against it. I understand there are statistics that show crime has been cut where people carry concealed weapons, but there are just too many innocent bystanders in the long run who could be hurt by this.

"Please understand: I am in favor of guns. I own a lot of guns myself and am a strong believer in the right to own guns. I am an avid hunter; my kids are avid hunters. I love the sportsman aspect of guns. But I don't see where this falls into being a sportsman."

Ziegenhorn, a longtime National Rifle Association member, said his greatest fear is that the example of parents carrying guns could increase the number of guns in schools.

"I have been raised where adults are supposed to set an example. I'll be the first to admit, my example has not been totally what it should be. I'm not perfect. But this is a public statement we are making to these kids. If Johnny sees daddy carrying a gun, and Johnny knows somebody at school is harassing him, he may just do like daddy and strap on a gun to see what the bully will do then."

Ziegenhorn advised that children facing bullies "should start lifting weights and go whip his butt."

He said: "Sometimes the only way to get rid of a bully is with a fight. That's sad but true. But if a kid at school resorts to a weapon, the issue is settled with death, and that's not the answer -- not to mention an innocent bystander that could be hurt. Someone getting whipped is one thing, but you can't get over being dead."