they want every little local town and big city to have their own rules about where you can carry a weapon if you have a carry permit.
If Ohio allowed this, there would be a confusing mess of laws that would discourage licensed individuals from carrying a weapon throughout the state. In one city you could carry a weapon in a park, in the next city you couldn't and might be subject to arrest and loss of your license. One city might decree that carrying your weapon on main street was illegal and other might rule that carry was not allowed within 1000 feet of city hall.
That's why when a state passes a concealed weapons law it applies state wide. There are places in Florida that I'm not allow to carry my weapon and they are:
The following is a list of places where you are restricted from carrying a weapon or firearm even if you have a license. Please note that this is a simplified list. The places marked by an asterisk (*) may have exceptions or additional restrictions. See Section 790.06 (12), Florida Statutes for a complete listing.
o any place of nuisance as defined in s. 823.05
o any police, sheriff, or highway patrol station
o any detention facility, prison, or jail; any courthouse
o any courtroom*
o any polling place
o any meeting of the governing body of a county, public school district, municipality, or special district
o any meeting of the Legislature or a committee thereof
o any school, college, or professional athletic event not related to firearms
o any school administration building
o any portion of an establishment licensed to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption*
o any elementary or secondary school facility
o any area technical center
o any college or university facility*
o inside the passenger terminal and sterile area of any airport*
o any place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/weapons/possession.htmlI have no serious problem with these restrictions and I adhere to them. Occasionally (actually infrequently) I run into a business that posts a sign that says "No Firearms Allowed". I take my business elsewhere and take a few minutes to call the establishment and explain to them that because of their requirement, I will not patronize their establishment. No problem. There have been occasions where I notice later the signs were removed. I don't take credit for this, as calling the owner who posts such signs is a common practice among CCW holders.
I understand that you have a somewhat vested interest and a reputation for opposing gun ownership for self defense and concealed carry. Fine. You present your arguments intelligently and employ a sense of humor that is entertaining to read. I would never expect you to change your viewpoint. In fact, I hope you never do. The only thing that would change your mind on the value of owning and carrying a weapon for self defense would be a life changing encounter with a aggressive criminal intent on harming or killing you. I would never wish that on anyone.
As to your comment:
But I just keep wondering. What about guns in the hands of citizens who tell lies? honest legal permanent residents?
How come it's only guns in the hands of citizens who don't tell lies that aren't a problem?I sure you realize that everyone tells lies. If you were brutally honest you would hurt the feelings of those you love or those you were friends with. That's why most lies are called "white lies". Of course, there are more serious lies. Some people lie on their income tax for example. Some people lie on job applications. Which this is far from admirable, it has little to do with gun ownership. Personally, I avoid lying except for the harmless white lies. It's a personal thing, but I feel that lying only gives me a negative opinion of myself. I view myself as an honest individual and I make efforts not to destroy that image as I would consider myself to be a hypocrite.
Oh, and how come it's the guns that are the problem when they're in the hands of the criminal element? Isn't it the criminal element that's the problem? Guns don't cause problems; criminal elements cause problems. No?Yes the criminal element does indeed cause problems. Lack of opportunity, education and racism often causes people to commit crime to find a solution to the problems they face in life. If some person chooses to break into my house and steal my property while I was not home, I would be angry and upset. But it would be a far different matter if that person had a weapon with him when he broke into my occupied house or threatened me while I was in a parking lot or walking down the street. The same if an unarmed individual attacked me with the intent to inflict bodily harm. That individual would cross a threshold that makes him an extreme danger not only to me but to society.
So if the Plain Dealer is actually interested in reducing violent crime, why do they waste print by worrying about licensed individuals who carry weapons? Wouldn't they do a service to the community by trying to get the criminal justice system to put violent armed criminals behind bars for a long time? If these criminals merely walk through the "revolving door of justice" how many more victims will fall prey to their evil intentions.
True, the criminal element is a problem. The armed criminal problem is a SERIOUS problem.
You live in Canada which has a lower violence level then much of the United States. The problem is that the violent crime might spread like a virus into your own country. Your position is that gun ownership in the nation south of yours should be restricted by laws similar to Canada. While there's nothing wrong with advocating that position, you might consider occasionally mentioning that strict enforcement of the laws concerning individuals carrying weapons illegally is just as important if not more important than merely limiting gun ownership for good citizens who do not commit violent crime.
You have a reputation that extends beyond DU. While it is unlikely, an effort on your part to get the United States to implement and enforce draconian laws against armed criminals might just result in your not having to face a life changing experience.
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