[lurker]

Poor Jennifer has a fear of normal folks "secretly" carrying their weapon but doesn't seem to understand the realities of being in the presence of a strung-out meth-head wanting to borrow a few dollars from her friendly neighborhood convenience store.

For whatever reason, she also has a fear of using her "Enter _l" key.

Unprotected rights

Due to the concealed weapon carrier protests, at least I know they won't be patronizing my business.

So not only do the concealed gun carriers feel the need to carry their deadly weapons around town, now they feel the need to bully business owners about not allowing them in their store. There was an abundant amount of concealed weapon permits doled out in this community recently. And now people are concerned about those guns being in their places of business. The whole thing arises from the amount of concealed weapons that are out on the street. If a person is carrying a concealed weapon around Hutchinson, they must feel they "need" to, and they are probably in the mental state where they are absolutely prepared to use it. That scares me the most. Who wants to be in the cross fire of a robber at a store, and a concealed weapon permitted person who feels they have the right to use their weapon at their discretion? Not me. Not with my children present. The gun carrier is taking away my right to react to a threat differently. We are all citizens. Gun carrying or not. But the gun carrier may be more likely to take direct action in a situation that may put more people at harm. I have no past record either, my background check is clean back to my childhood, but I choose not to carry a gun, and I would like the choice to not be around those that do. Do the gun carriers believe that this town has enough threatening moments on a daily basis that their concealed weapons are necessary? Or is it a matter that the have the "right" to do it so they will do it. The only purpose for a gun is to induce fear, (don't mess with me) control, (don't do it, I've got a gun) or pain (O.K. you did it, now I will shoot). And where are we anyway? Baghdad or a family town in Mid-America? A concealed weapon carrier (CWC) has an advantage over my rights. They have a secret that I don't know about, that can put me in harm's way. How are my rights being protected in deserving not to be near deadly weapons?

I got sick at the sight of the "NO guns allowed" sign when I first saw one. Great, now I have to look at this everyday? Now THIS negative thought is shoved in my face? Again? And again?

I would like the choice not to buy into the fear-based methodology that has been building in our society. I think each problem here in Hutchinson could be addressed in non-threatening ways. The thievery, the drug society, domestic animal overpopulation, each one could be solved without the use of force or fear.

JENNIFER RANDALL

Hutchinson

02/19/2007; 02:39:43 AM