Officials breathe easier over failure of hidden guns, but issue isn't dead
Date: 05/28/01

Those Million Mom marchers, Missourians Against Handgun Violence and numerous faith groups, such as the Community of Christ in Independence, aren't the only ones who were pleased when Rep. Wayne Crump's conceal-carry legislation failed to make it to Gov. Bob Holden's desk this year.

Kansas City Police Chief Rick D. Easley was delighted. "I think it would have made it very difficult for us," Easley told The Kansas City Star's Editorial Board last week. "We feel there are already enough guns on the street now." The chief correctly assesses the public safety threat if the concealing and carrying of firearms was legal.

Like most police officers, he knows the pressure that conceal-carry would have put on the law enforcers here and elsewhere in Missouri. He knew to expect a devasting [sic] effect on violent crimes in Kansas City, had the measure gotten through. We've seen it in Texas with the legislature's repeal of the 125-year ban on conceal-carry there.

However, such logical conclusions and thoughtful examinations escaped several Jefferson City legislators, not just Crump.

At every possible opportunity this session -- starting with the creation of a transparent legislative committee devoted to furthering gun industry interests -- certain lawmakers showed that they represent the interests of the gun lobby above the voters'. Fortunately, no one in the Capitol held up a musket over his head as NRA President Charlton Heston did at the NRA convention in Kansas City.

The governor said he also was pleased not to find a conceal-carry bill that he would either have to sign or veto. Holden also told the Editorial Board that the conceal-carry bill had at least 130 votes in the House and about two-thirds of the Missouri Senate.

For this reason, the governor explained, it was best to take a low-key approach and not make any declarative statements on this contentious issue: "My goal was not to see any major changes in conceal-carry in Missouri."

Letting the issue stew without his public input, Holden said, was a political strategy that succeeded. In other words, Holden is attempting to take credit for helping to engineer the legislation's defeat. That's news to the foot soldiers in the war for more responsible gun control. To them, Holden missed the battle but is among those first in line for his medal.

We don't embrace the governor's duck-and-cover approach on all matters of importance to Missourians. But, for now, on this issue no damage was done. This could always change, and we would not be surprised to see the gun-loving lawmakers attempt to ram through a concealed-carry measure as one of the first items of business in the 2002 election year.

As part of his fake-out-the-enemy routine, Holden also told the Editorial Board that he won't rule out support for some future conceal-carry legislation. He prefers to have the issue brought before the voters again, as happened when voters rejected Proposition B. But, should lawmakers return with another conceal-carry bill next session, he won't reject it outright.

"I'm willing to take a look at any conceal-carry legislation that lands on my desk," Holden said.

Some governors throw caution to the wind. This one throws it into his resume. You can bet the farm that conceal-carry is not a dead issue in this state. There's just too much money and influence to peddle in the Capitol on its behalf.

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1.  Police chiefs are political animals and serve only to conform to the local "correctness." 

2.  Street cops are overwhelmingly in favor of concealed carry by responsible citizens.

3. What "devast[at]ing effect" has the Texas concealed carry had on violent crimes?  This is another of the blatant lies spewing from the editorial board of the K C Star.  Would that empirical data be used.  Or that Tom McClanahan (the token "conservative" on the editorial board) be consulted.

4.  Sure wish old Heston had held something more substantial over his head, e.g., an AR-15, an SKS (with a bayonet) or even a fine A-Bolt Remington. <sigh>

5.  Even the Star acknowledges that Holden is an incompetent.  Can you imagine, though, the screams of distress coming from 18th and Grand Blvd. had Jim Talent won?

6.  Examples of "money and influence to peddle" would be most interesting to see.  Just what on earth is the editorialist talking about here?  Ah, yes, make a statement without foundation and the reading sheep out there will believe it.  Not.

7.  Don Dycus looked up "devasting" and found:

devaste/deevást/ v.tr. (devastes, devasted, devasting) an effort by semi-literate demagogues to obfuscate an issue and persuade others through fabrication and prevarication.