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Act of Courage
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Act of Courage Monday, February 4, 2002 I witnessed an act of courage in a Public Safety Committee hearing on Senate Bill 121 (which proposes to eliminate the present requirements for training of concealed weapon permit applicants). Clark Aposhian, a long-time gun rights advocate, broke ranks with those who oppose all gun restrictions. He asked the senators to reject the proposed bill and to retain the requirement for training. He's now paying the price in the form of hate and vicious phone calls. I was there as a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Center of Utah to speak against the proposed bill. I believe that good training for concealed weapons carriers in the safe and legal use of their firearms is common sense. As a retired soldier, I am appalled that our state would consider a law compelling its citizens to mingle in our factories, offices, farms, ranches, schools, churches, even our very homes, with totally untrained people carrying loaded, lethal, concealed weapons. Mr. Aposhian and I will probably never agree completely on gun issues, but I was proud of him for speaking out on this one. This is not some philisophical debate about the Second Amendment. This is about life and death. Mr. Aposhian chose life. And this old soldier salutes him. The endless gun debate in Utah is trivialized by those who focus only on carrying these weapons. It is far more important to focus on why they are being carried in the first place -- their use. The law permits us to carry them in order to us them to kill or disable someone who poses a deadly threat to us or our family. Even trained soldiers know that sometimes we aim at the wrong target. Sometimes we aim at the right target but hit the wrong one. Concealed weapons are not carried to make your clothes fit funny, they're carried for killing people. The gun debate in Utah is divisive and bitter. Mr. Aposhian reached out toward the middle ground. All it took was a little common sense and goodwill. Let's all continue to reach out. Sanity may yet prevail. GIL IKER Salt Lake City http://www.sltrib.com/02042002/public_f/173277.htm