Let us carry guns for self-defense
The tragedies at NIU, Lane Bryant, Virginia Tech and Brown's Chicken are horrific beyond measure. Our prayers reach out through heaven to the families and their lost souls.
Editors, elitists, lawmakers and letter writers will opine as to cause and cure. Many will expound and little will be done. It will begin anew with the next tragedy.
However, situations as serious as these require reasoned remedy.
This nation is awash in millions of guns. With that many available, it is a wonder that such tragedies don't occur more often.
It is not so surprising when one realizes that 99 percent of the guns are in the homes of good citizens.
It is tempting to suggest stricter gun laws after such tragedies. This is understandable but ultimately myopic.
If enacted, honest citizens will abide the law and criminals will not.
Presently, 48 states issue permits allowing some form of concealed or open carry of personal firearms. Only Wisconsin and Illinois are "no-issue" states.
Twenty years ago, there were 15 "no-issue" states. Clearly there is a trend. Just as clearly, three of the four named tragedies occurred in Illinois and Virginia's took place in the "gun-free zone" of a school campus.
Allowing good citizens the right to carry weapons anywhere for self defense may not stop all such tragedies but it will surely lessen such incidences and limit the carnage in each.
It's time for Illinois to join their sister states and enact a responsible concealed carry law. It's in the Bill of Rights. Why don't they trust us?
Dion F. Kendrick
Des Plaines