Firearm Fight Misses Mark

Josey1

Firearm Fight Misses MarkPublished: Dec 7, 2001Regarding Arthur Hayhoe's letter, ``Gun Debate,'' Nov. 30: For weeks, I have read the views of the Florida Coalition to Stop Gun Violence on this topic, but nothing from Zephyrhills or county residents in support of these views. True, the subject is controversial and of interest to the community, but the one argument continues to come from only one source professionally representing an organization's agenda. It would at least be a refreshing change to read the views of other county and city residents with similar viewpoints, if any exist. Despite Mr. Hayhoe's repeated claims that a majority or a significant number of people in the county support his views, only he appears at meetings or submits letters calling for more restrictions. Either Bill and Ann Bunting, whom Hayhoe often criticizes, have powers that would rival Harry Potter's at conjuring up supporters on a moment's notice, or perhaps the reality is that only a disinterested few support his organization's views on the matter. The question readers should be pondering is: What makes the Zephyrhills issue, in which the city proposes prohibiting employees from carrying weapons to work, so important? Is it a safety or liability concern as expressed by Hayhoe, or is there more at stake that draws opponents from other parts of the county? To get the answer, one has to understand the current trend in society, as well as the history and long-term plans of organizations like Hayhoe's. Over the last five years we have seen a steady decline in the popularity of firearm prohibition organizations, as the validity of their claims are questioned when held up against the facts. National surveys show the majority of Americans treasure the entire Bill of Rights, including the Second Amendment. Courts continue to dismiss frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers, and some states have passed legislation outlawing them. Thirty- three states now have right-to-carry laws; 24 have adopted these laws in the last 12 years. A survey recently released by the National Association of Chiefs of Police finds that more than 60 percent of the nation's police chiefs and sheriffs favor a national system allowing law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms. Also, the courts and the U.S. attorney general confirm the intent by the founders of our nation on the Second Amendment right of individuals to keep and bear arms and that it does not rest solely with the National Guard, as advocated by Hayhoe. Worse yet, in the eyes of prohibition organizations, since Sept. 11 even some firearm prohibition supporters on Capitol Hill have stopped asking for more firearm control legislation and instead now ask themselves: Which is better to use, a semi-automatic or a revolver? The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) was originally formed in 1975 as the National Coalition to Ban Handguns (NCBH) ``for the purposes of banning the importation, manufacture, sale, transfer, ownership and possession of handguns.'' In 1989, after expanding its efforts to include restrictions on all firearms, the group adopted its new name, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. So, what does all this have to do with Zephyrhills? You must remember, these organizations have adopted a new policy of ``slow and steady wins the race.'' By promoting fashionable and politically correct terms of safety and antiviolence, they work to drive a wedge into our civil liberties one small step at a time. Though the general public may see the Zephyrhills issue as relatively insignificant, in reality it and other similar issues are very important, because they set precedence. The concern of many Pasco residents is the fact that broad-based, zero-tolerance restrictions have a track record of ultimately ending up defying all common sense and creating more harm than good. By creating small zones of differing firearm laws and restrictions, organizations like Hayhoe's work to disrupt and bypass the authority of Florida statutes and create a confusing patchwork of firearm laws throughout the state, which will then be used to call for statewide prohibition. Yet the concerns expressed by these organizations, that permit holders would lose their tempers in traffic accidents and start shooting each other, has been unfounded. States with concealed carry permits on average have a revocation rate of less than 0.04 percent. Florida's rate is 0.02 percent. In the majority of these cases, the revocation is due to a minor technical infraction, rather than the result of a crime. Which leaves me but one question. Where is the problem? It certainly doesn't seem to lie with lawful firearm owners and state-licensed concealed carry permit holders. http://tampatrib.com/Pasco/MGAU36JBXUC.html