Conceal-carry law is in citizens' best interest

A bill is making its way through the Missouri legislature -- under threat of veto by Gov. Bob Holden -- that would allow residents of the state to get licenses to carry concealed weapons.

This is a highly volatile issue, and there appears to be little common ground for supporters of the legislation and its opponents.

Supporters contend that armed citizens are the best deterrent against crime. Moreover, allowing concealed weapons offers a sense of security to those who want the protection of a firearm.

But opponents point out concerns about safety and the potential for reckless use of firearms, which could lead to unwarranted injuries or deaths.

All of these issues -- and much more -- were hashed out prior to the 1999 vote on Proposition B, which would have permitted concealed weapons. This new legislation, however, requires more gun-safety training and provides for stricter background checks before licenses would be issued to carry concealed weapons. Three years ago, Proposition B received support from most voters in rural areas, but a majority of voters in urban areas were against concealed weapons. Proposition B failed.

Some legislators -- even some who favor concealed weapons -- now worry about enacting a law whose basic components already have been rejected by voters.

These concerns are good topics for debate, but they fail to change the need for citizens to have the right to carry concealed weapons, if they qualify and if they choose to do so.

The fact is, as residents of the Cape Girardeau area recently learned, many residents already carry concealed weapons. They feel they are entitled to protect themselves. They are willing to risk the consequences if they are caught rather than be unprotected.

As a result, many Missourians mingle every day with firearms-carrying neighbors, friends and strangers -- and they don't even know it.

By legalizing the carrying of concealed weapons, some controls would be put in place. Convicted felons and individuals judged mentally incompetent wouldn't be able to get a license to carry concealed weapons.

Opponents of the conceal-carry legislation point to the fact that outright criminals already choose to carry firearms illegally and wouldn't be likely to apply for a license under the new law. That's true, but that's another issue: how to police illegal firearms.

Meanwhile, law-abiding citizens should not be penalized because of those who misuse firearms and commit crimes with loaded guns. In fact, the very idea that criminals will always have firearms regardless of the law is one of the strongest arguments to be made in favor of legalizing concealed weapons for decent citizens.

Legislators should not be deterred by the 1999 vote. This is a legislative issue, and approving this law would be a good decision. If the governor chooses to veto this law, it can only be hoped that there would be enough legislators to override the veto.