Concelead Carry Laws Further Gay Rights
We here at GayPatriot have long believed the Second Amendment offers a particular benefit to gay Americans, protecting our rights to bear arms so we can defend ourselves against those who would do us harm because of our sexuality. Just under a year ago, we contended the that the U.S. Supreme Court’s Heller decision was a gay rights’ victory: “With this ruling, gay people will have greater and more ready access to handguns and so be better able to defend ourselves against gay-bashers.”
Over at the Huffington Post (yes, the Huffington Post), GOProud’s Christopher Barron builds on this notion, holding that Concealed Carry Laws do a better job of protecting gay people against hate crimes than do Hate Crimes laws:
This summer, the Senate will consider the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, more commonly know as Hate Crimes legislation. Unfortunately, the bill, as currently written, will do little to actually prevent violent hate crimes from occurring. There is, however, a way to stop hate crimes before they happen: help law-abiding Americans at risk of hate crimes defend themselves from predators. . . .
A bill in the Senate, S. 845, co-sponsored by Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Senator David Vitter (R-LA), allows for reciprocity among all the states that currently allow citizens to lawfully carry a concealed firearm.
This common sense legislation would allow an individual who is lawfully licensed to carry a concealed weapon in his home state, to also carry a concealed weapon in another state – as long as that state permits conceal carry and as long as the individual complies with the concealed carry law of that state. . . .
According to a comprehensive study which reviewed crime statistics in every county in the United States from 1977 to 1992, states that passed concealed carry law reduced their rate of murder by 8.5%, rape by 5%, aggravated assault by 7%, and robbery by 3%.
And I would wager that states with concealed carry laws don’t have as comprehensive hate crimes legislation as do those without laws furthering Second Amendment protections.
Knowing that the gay man or lesbian may be concealing a fire arm would cause a potential gay basher to think twice before assaulting him or her. The legislation that Senators Thuna and Vitter have introduced would give gay people one more tool to protect ourselves against thugs meaning to do us harm. Let us hope that other gay organizations join GOProud in lobbying for this bill would protect the rights of gay Americans–as well as those of all Americans.
Kudos to GOProud for pointing out the gay rights advanced by Concealed Carry Laws.
22 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
HMMM. . .not quite sure about this. Will today’s shooting at the Holocaust museum be a factor in getting the S845 passed? Sad that the security guard died after the incident.
–Law enforcement officials told NBC News that the suspect in the shooting was 88-year-old James Wenneker von Brunn, a native of Maryland. Von Brunn is believed to have connections to white supremacist groups.–
fox news reports :He describes the incident in a bio on his Web site, holywesternempire.org:
“In 1981 Von Brunn attempted to place the treasonous Federal Reserve Board of Governors under legal, non-violent, citizens arrest. He was tried in a Washington, D.C. Superior Court; convicted by a Negro jury, Jew/Negro attorneys, and sentenced to prison for eleven years by a Jew judge. A Jew/Negro/White Court of Appeals denied his appeal. He served 6.5 years in federal prison.”
The Web site attributed to Von Brunn also says he wrote a book called “Kill the Best Gentiles,” about how to “protect your white family.”
Comment by rusty — June 10, 2009 @ 5:33 pm - June 10, 2009
barf.
Comment by bob (aka boob) — June 10, 2009 @ 8:04 pm - June 10, 2009
Concealed Carry and reciprocity only works if you live in a state that actually issues CCW’s. In my state (NJ) they don’t issue CCW’s to anyone, not even uniformed security guards. I’m not even legally-allowed to keep a loaded-firearm in my business for self-protection; and God-help-you if they find even an unloaded weapon in your car. And most galling is I need the written “permission” from my local chief of police for each and even handgun purchase…if I can prove I “need” that particular make and model handgun…and can wait the 6-8 weeks it takes for them to process my supplication.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania just-across the river is a ‘shall issue’ jurisdiction without even a waiting-period if you have a valid CCW.
Comment by Ted B. (Charging Rhino) — June 10, 2009 @ 8:57 pm - June 10, 2009
CCW legislation that allows citizens to carry weapons would also benefit other groups in the society at large. Hopefully, your lobbying will bring about change for a number of groups.
Comment by Duffy - Native Intelligence — June 10, 2009 @ 9:53 pm - June 10, 2009
While over at the HuffBlows, I read an article about the e-mails FNC’s Shepard Smith is getting. Naturally, the comments are laden about it being a byproduct of the “hate Faux News spews on a daily basis”. Of course there’s not ONE bit of evidence, but the left lies so often that they believe it.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — June 10, 2009 @ 11:05 pm - June 10, 2009
The logic behind this reminds of an episode of All in the Family. When a local TV station runs an anti-gun editorial, Archie decides to rebutt it. His logic is that the best way to fight violence is to giver everyone a gun; fight plane hijackers by passing one out as each passenger boards the plane.
By the logic presented, simply carrying a concealed weapon won’t deter someone from attacking you. However, carrying a weapon while wearing a button or sign that says something like “I’m carrying a gun, so you might think twice about screwing with me” could probably act as a deterrent.
Is there any evidence to show that there is less crime/attacks in states with concealed weapons laws as opposed to states that don’t have them? TX and CA, which have vastly different gun laws, seem to have almost identical violent crime rates.
And by the way, it seems to me that the proposed law referenced in the post seems to step pretty hard on states rights, don’t you think?
3: Well, why not move to PA?
Comment by Kevin — June 11, 2009 @ 12:01 am - June 11, 2009
Um, Kevin, yes, there is evidence that there is less crime in states with concealed weapons laws and I reference the statistics in this very post, the one to which you attached your comment.
So, why not try reading the posts before offering your commentary?
hmmm . . I use statistics, you refer to a sitcom written by a dyed-in the-wool liberal .
Comment by GayPatriotWest — June 11, 2009 @ 1:27 am - June 11, 2009
That’s the only time liberals can win a debate…when they get to write the arguments of both sides.
Comment by American Elephant — June 11, 2009 @ 2:42 am - June 11, 2009
7: Yes, I did refer to a sitcom, but clearly you missed the irony of the example I used. Look around, I delved a bit further into state statistics, being the reason for my statement.
It’s pretty sad that we’re at this point, nearing the end of the first decade of the 21st century. We have all of this great technology which is supposed to help us communicate better and faster, but it’s all become garbled. We supposedly live in the nation with the highest standard of living in the world. At this point though, most crime can still be traced back to what it’s been traced back to for years: poverty and lack of education. However, rather than making real societal strides to lower the poverty and improve the education, there are those out there who simply think the way to keep safe inside their own little worlds is to carry a gun at all times.
I know full well that James von Brunn was most likely and individual whacko, where conservative/liberal probably had no meaning to what he did yesterday. I am curious to know, however, the type of gun he used in the shootings and he how he got it.
Comment by Kevin — June 11, 2009 @ 4:09 am - June 11, 2009
NO Kevin, you asked for statistics. Small difference there.
Comment by The Livewire — June 11, 2009 @ 7:02 am - June 11, 2009
in my country, nobody (not even the police) carry handguns. Pretty much all the guns sold are hunting rifles. Why do you think that a society that requires citizens to have handguns is a healthy one?
Comment by Bart M — June 11, 2009 @ 7:13 am - June 11, 2009
This post proves you guys are really out of touch with reality.
Comment by NJ Liberal — June 11, 2009 @ 9:48 am - June 11, 2009
After reading the posting, I started reading the above comments. When I read #12, I bust out laughing. Sorry I realy can’t stop laughing. Did someone really put that in as a joke?
Comment by The Old Man — June 11, 2009 @ 10:38 am - June 11, 2009
actually gpw, you aren’t using statistics, you’re using unverifiable figures presented in the article on huffington post. regardless of the dubious character of these figures, your argument is pretty weak–the results are too attenuated from the proposal. conservatives are going to have to do a lot better to sell this bill to gays, if indeed they are legitimately concerned with having their support, rather than tacking this proposal on the hate crimes bill in a cynical attempt to further their pro-gun agenda.
Comment by chad — June 11, 2009 @ 1:15 pm - June 11, 2009
To the Old Man,
No, that was not put in as a joke. The proprietors of this blog would be more concerned if someone wore white after Labor Day than the fact that in CA an entire group of people were just made second-class citizens after the CA Supreme Court upheld Prop 8. But there is some justice in this world, Carrie Prejean was just fired by The Donald.
Comment by NJ Liberal — June 11, 2009 @ 1:54 pm - June 11, 2009
#15 – Wrong. We don’t allow ourselves to be viewed through the prism of prissy victimhood. That’s why we are less myopic than the lot of you on the left side of the aisle.
And I don’t know where you grew up, but here in the South we can wear white through October and as early as Easter.
Plus, get over your hatred of Carrie Prejean simply because she’s prettier than you and Perez Hilton combined. And a much better speaker to boot.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — June 11, 2009 @ 3:41 pm - June 11, 2009
Peter H.
Wow, you are pretty vicious in your comments just like most right-wingers when confronted with the facts. Did I say anything about hating Carrie Prejean? That’s because I did not. You are perfectly free to love her in spite of her desire to rob the gay community of our Constitutional rights. And you proved my point; you’re providing fashion tips on wearing white! Hmm, now what color holster goes with white? Does it depend on the belt and shoes or the color of the Glock?
Comment by NJ Liberal — June 11, 2009 @ 3:49 pm - June 11, 2009
#17 – Please explain to me what is “vicious” about stating the obvious? That we believe in personal responsibility and do not let our orientation define who we are as individuals?
Projection, NJL. Get to know the concept.
And as far as holsters, that is so 1970s. I won’t tell you where I conceal my Walther PPK but suffice to say I’ll never be the victim of a violent crime.
The only thing you should feel when killing a criminal is the recoil.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — June 11, 2009 @ 4:44 pm - June 11, 2009
And now the excoriation of gay republicans by the gentle, loving, tolerant, accepting left…
http://www.baywindows.com/index.php?ch=columnists&sc=reality_check&sc2=&sc3=&id=92389
Comment by The other Peter H — June 11, 2009 @ 6:16 pm - June 11, 2009
Ah, NJ Bigot, how we’ve missed you. Of course, you’d deny the ‘rights’ to incenstous couples or to polyamourous groups you claim were denied you. So you’re as much a bigot as those you slander.
But we’re used to your bigotry, inability, to support your tirades, and unsupported statements
Comment by The_Livewire — June 11, 2009 @ 6:46 pm - June 11, 2009
And I don’t know where you grew up, but here in the South we can wear white through October and as early as Easter.
I grew up and live in NJ. And I’ll wear white whenever I damn well please.
Comment by Pat — June 12, 2009 @ 4:38 pm - June 12, 2009
Hello ladies and gentlemen,
Many of you are missing the point.
What everyone has forgotten in the US, is that the first freedom in the Declaration of Independence is that of freedom from coercion. Everything else is just window dressing.
That you are gay or straight is irrelevant. That you are educated or not is irrelevant. That you are a man, woman, or child is not relevant.
That you should be free of fear is very relevant!
Remember an armed society is a polite society. Whether you are male or female, the firearm allows you to be the equal of any bully, thug, or racist bigoted bastard out there.
Here is an example that is verifiable:
Miami, Jacksonville, and Tampa after Florida’s 1987 RTC law. Homicide rates fell 10, 18, and 20 percent, respectively, in those metro areas from 1987 until 1993. http://bjsdata.ojp.usdoj.gov/dataonline/
Best regards, and for the love of everything holy, get trained and protect yourself and your loved ones!
Albert
Why I Carry a Gun
Real Men Hunt
Comment by Albert A Rasch — July 9, 2009 @ 7:12 pm - July 9, 2009