“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
— Abraham Lincoln
Or in this case, sit down at your computer and remove all doubt.
Maybe fool is too harsh, but the comments of Frank M. Taylor on the Foxnews.com website don’t help non gun owners understand why people own guns.
Why I own an assault rifle
First, let me start out by quoting the one thing he said that makes absolute sense. In fact, if he had stopped with this, I wouldn’t be writing this post.
There’s no law on the planet that will change how a man values the life of another. Outlaw online sales, assault rifles, guns, liquids over 3 ounces, and he still would find a way to murder.
In fact, Texas is the only state in the union where open carry is illegal(the ability to carry a gun in public for all to see).
While there might be no de jure laws against open carry in other states, I know of a couple of “may issue” states where open carry is a fast way to get your permit or license revoked. Open carry is a very controversial subject even among gun owners.
It is perfectly legal to conceal a firearm in a movie theater in Colorado if you have a license
As my lawyer friends are fond of saying, “It depends.”
18-4-504 Third Degree Criminal Trespass
(1) A person commits the crime of third degree criminal trespass if such person unlawfully enters or remains in or upon premises of another.
(2) Third degree criminal trespass is a class 1 petty offense, but:
(a) It is a class 3 misdemeanor if the premises have been classified by the county assessor for the county in which the land is situated as agricultural land pursuant to section 39-1-102 (1.6), C.R.S.; and
(b) It is a class 5 felony if the person trespasses on premises so classified as agricultural land with the intent to commit a felony thereon.
Which means that signage prohibiting the concealed carry of a firearm in a private business, such as a movie theater, is binding. It’s been reported that the theater in Aurora has such signage.
Colorado concealed-carry classes aren’t required to be taught by law enforcement
Here is a little fun fact for my buddy Mr. Taylor. Not every police officer is an expert with weapons or firearms related laws. Outside of the bull shit found inside your local gun shop, the worst place to get gun information is from a police officer. Most of them aren’t into guns, guns are just tools used in their trade. I know more than one police officer who would give up his sidearm before he’d give up his two way radio. Of all of the police officers I know, and I know a bunch, only a few are firearms enthusiasts. I know more EMS personnel and fire fighters who are into guns and shooting than cops. Most instructors I know aren’t cops. Most really good shooters I know aren’t cops.
Colorado concealed-carry classes don’t require that you demonstrate proficiency with a fire arm
Colorado concealed-carry classes don’t require that you even shoot a firearm
Here is the problem with showing proficiency. In a non gun friendly state or city, such as say, Chicago, IL, the requirements to show proficiency can be so onerous as to make it nearly impossible. See Ezell v City of Chicago, wherein the City of Chicago in it’s effort to thumb it’s municipal nose at the United States Supreme Court enacted an ordinance mandating a minimum of one of range time before a permit would be issued while at the same time banning all ranges within the city. Their defense, which was laughed at by the 7th Circuit, was that people could drive outside the city to practice. Other places in other states require membership in a gun club, a class taught by one of their police officers, or proficiency with a variety of firearms before a permit will be issues. Those types of requirements to exercise rights under the First Amendment have been consistently ruled unconstitutional. Why should one Right be encumbered while another isn’t?
I’ve fired and used guns my whole life. I don’t claim to be an expert or even overly proficient. And though I have shot a few thousand rounds in my life, I don’t think that would matter for me or others in this situation. So here’s what you soon-to-be heroes with conceal weapons permits should know:
He’s fired a few thousand rounds in his lifetime? Hell I know people who do that in day. Despite his proclamation that it takes thousands and thousands of hours to become proficient, people use firearms every day to save their lives with little or no training. All you have to do is look at the news accounts of 80+ year old people shooting invaders in their house to know that.
Even if you train with your gun, you do it until you get it right. Police and military do it until they don’t get it wrong. You’re just not ready like they are to use your gun.
Most cops qualify ONCE a year. Some more often, but given the cost of ammunition, many cities will only do the legally required minimum. See what I said about cops and guns above. Some cities require qualification more than that and the FBI requires qualifications four times a year. Still, most cops are mediocre shots.
Then there is, I know it’s been played a million times before, but it gets the point across.
That guy is, or was,, a federal agent. He’s supposed to be an expert in weapons handling, just ask him.
Frankly, Mister Taylor should have taken his own advice before he wrote his blog post cum opinion piece for Fox News. Misinformation doesn’t help us even a little.
I corrected myself in many of the points that you’ve made in a later post. I freely admit to making a mistake in providing facts without fact-checking. No one’s fault but my own. I should’ve researched my work before I let Fox News publish it.
The legality of conceal carry in that theater is one that I’m currently researching. I’ll be consulting the conceal-carry instructor (who was also a firearms trainer and police officer) as well as the ordinances that have been written.
You’re right, It doesn’t take a great deal of skill to point and shoot; people have successfully defend themselves – with little or no training. the point that I poorly made is that training improves the likelihood of success in a firefight and that without such training, it’s dangerous to assume that we know what the outcome would be.
And, regarding who’s more proficient, police, military or civilians, the comments yesterday said all or none – coming from all three sides. In the end, though, I’m going to trust the professionals over myself or most civilians (if you’re eating up 1,000 rounds a day, I’ll definitely go with you, though).
In truth, I don’t want bans or further restrictions – but if I didn’t have a choice and the government had to do something, I’d rather we receive enforce mandatory training. I’d rather the good guys shoot better, and the bad guys get ferreted out.