West Virgina

Several state legislatures around the country have been considered allowing concealed carry without a permit, essentially removing any need to receive training or submit an application prior to carrying a firearm concealed.

Have to say I am of several minds about this:

1.  West Virginia is an open-carry state; that is, one can without a permit, without having to document training, obtain and wear a firearm openly in public.  I assume that one still must pass a NICS (National Instant Check System - a background check) when purchasing a firearm. It is unclear why this is okay with regard to an open carry but training and permitting are required for concealed carry?

I am not a fan of open carry of firearms.  I will confess much of that opinion seems more emotional than rational.  First, I think it puts a bull's eye on your back. Second, because of that it also makes one ripe for a gun grab attempt. Third, as much as I hate to say it, it antagonizes the ignorant among us and that is probably not a good thing since most people are ignorant.  Yes, the 2A and RKBA exist, but we have also seen voters (composed largely of those ignorant folks) in many states, supporting laws and ordinances that impose limits on types of firearms, magazine capacity and so on.  Unless or until that can all be scrutinized in light of the second amendment, antagonizes the ignorant only diminishes our cause and rights.

2.  As I said, I am not a fan of open carry and am not against at least some assurances that concealed carriers are competent and law-abiding.  However, I am not deluding myself, as most anti-gun people do. I realize rationally that requiring training and a permit to carry concealed does nothing to ensure that criminals, who by nature do not follow laws, will not carry a weapon concealed.  Again, I said some of this is emotional and not rational.  Perhaps that is the problem with this decision and why it is hard to understand why law enforcement officers were against it.

An article on Huffington Post (who, of course, loved the WV governor's decision to veto) noted that:

"The West Virginia Sheriffs' Association had come out against the bill, saying it would allow dangerous people to carry concealed weapons and would take away permit money that funds local law enforcement."

I am not sure whether these sheriffs truly believe that dangerous people do not already carry concealed firearms, whether they really think that the permit laws deter criminals. Perhaps the loss of revenue is really their issue.

3.  One good thing came of it as quoted in the HuffPost article:

"After years of operating in state legislatures unchecked, the NRA's agenda of putting gun lobby interests above the safety of our communities is now being defeated in state after state, and today, here in West Virginia," said Dee Price, a volunteer with the West Virginia chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. "It's just common sense that if a person wants to carry a loaded, hidden handgun in public, they need to demonstrate they have a clean recent violent criminal record and have been trained to handle and carry a gun safely."

So, apparently Moms Demand Action now agrees that it is common sense that a person with a clean criminal record and some training can carry a loaded concealed firearm.  So they support concealed carry.  It seems their little victory in WV has made them appreciate gun rights.

So? What's the problem?

As might be expected, Huffington Post is making a big deal of NY Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy saying he could accept a gay teammate even though he disagrees with the Lifestyle.

I can't say I see what the problem is. He didn't say he hated gays or that he would not welcome a gay teammate.  In fact, he said clearly that he could accept such a teammate.  It is time we got ourselves straight on this; we do not have to like or agree with everything everyone else does.  The fact that we disagree with it may not justify our behavior towards others, but we cannot mandate agreement with everyone or everything they do.

The important comment he makes is: "I don't think the fact that someone is a homosexual should completely shut the door on investing in them in a relational aspect. You can still accept them but I do disagree with the lifestyle, 100 percent."

Not a damned thing wrong with that!