Concealed weapons' permit holders should be the least of our worries when it comes to those who threaten our kids. It is the criminals, not the law-abiding citizens, we should fear.
I heard about a poll on the news the other day which showed that 80% of Utahns are in favor of this act. I have to question the error of this poll, and wonder if it is somehow biased. I have to do this not because I don't believe it, but because I fear it's truth.
The problem I see is that most people have been programmed to associate guns with criminals, and are oblivious to the truth. The truth that firearms are used 60 times more often to protect lives of honest citizens then to take lives. 92% of the time the guns are only brandished, or fired a warning shot. These statistics can be found in HR 347 (106 Congress 1st Session); a bill "To protect the right to obtain firearms for security, and to use firearms in defense of self, family, or home, and to provide for the enforcement of such right," that would have reinforced our right to bear arms and protect law-abiding citizens from legal action if the fire arms are used in self defense. Unfortunately this bill did not pass. Why then is it that I have never heard of any such happenings on the news even though these happenings occur 60 times more often than the criminal shootings we hear on the news from time to time?
People fear what they don't understand, especially when only the bad is shown without any of the good. Is it no wonder that the general public is afraid of guns? Is it therefor no wonder why the public is in favor of laws that do nothing to stop criminals, but hurt the law-abiding citizens? Tougher restrictions on guns will only make it harder for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves - and those around them - from criminals who already don't care about the laws. Such laws will only help the criminals, and make stubborn, law-abiding citizens, into criminals.
Out of all the highly publicized highschool shootings, NONE of the shooters had gotten or possessed their weapons legally, that I am aware of. They had already broken plenty of laws, and it wouldn't have mattered if guns were illegal inside of schools. Have we forgotten the days when kids would bring their rifles to school because they were part of the gun club? We didn't have these problems back then, so what makes us think that guns have anything to do with the problem?
The only defense against this frightening possibility is to educate the general public. I used to think banning guns was a good idea, until I educated myself and discovered what that would really mean (more criminals, and less ability to defend oneself against crime). As a law-abiding citizen who has gone through the expense and time-consuming steps it takes to get a concealed weapons permit, I can guarantee you that no criminal will take the time to do any such thing just so they can sneak a gun into a school.
I fear the day when I cannot protect myself, my loved ones, and other innocent lives from a criminal, simply because I chose to follow a law that the criminal didn't. I pray this day never comes, just as much as I pray I will never have to use such force even though I would with no regret.
I'm not asking you to believe me, or anyone else for that matter. All I'm asking is that you do what I did, and find out for yourself, and once you've found the truth as I have, help others to find it for themselves.