The City Wants to Pass its own Gun Laws

[Detector]

I've pretty much stayed out of this issue until I had weighted the information from both sides because I don't have a preference either way. There are few matter I feel I can voice an opinion on at this point.

Personally I feel the state statute should be left alone as is. From the information I've seen the good of CC far out weighs the bad. Statistics show crime goes down, what more needs to be said.

This idea of putting up No Guns signs is just short of stupid. The argument was made that it would designate government location where the CC doesn't apply, but isn't that the whole idea of the benefit of CC? The criminal not knowing who might pull out a weapon? You put up a sign and you've taken the guess work out of the criminals choices. A safe zone for criminals.

Criminals in general are stupid and it would be in the best interests of the city to keep them that way

Instead, I think it should be up to the CC license to state/train them that it is their responsibility to know where they can and cannot carry. Let the criminal feel there could be a person carrying a weapon at any location don't put up a sign telling them where they're safe. I suggest the CC people should be told if they plan to spend any time in a city where they don't know they should go to the local PD and after showing their CC permit receive a list of places where CC is not allowed.

I do think it should be up to the business owner if they want to put up a No Guns sign(private property). Stupid in my opinion, but I'm a believer in let the businesses owner run their own business. If they make stupid decisions thats their problem.

[Value Pack]

Alco has a sign up and Walmart does not. I got to wondering...why?

Walmart has to be admired for the fact that their decisions to do this or that are normally well thought out. They want to make money, be successful and keep people coming in the door. They don't let their "feelings" get in the way of research and known facts.

This is what Walmart policy is:

"We prefer that if a customer carries a firearm they keep it concealed or in their automobile. If a customer comes into the store with one in open sight and it causes other customers to be uncomfortable we will ask the customer to please take their firearm outside. Thank you for your question and comments. - Wal-Mart Corporate Communications"

I would bet that in a few months when things cool down that the sign at Alco will disappear like the sign at Applebees.

[wordsmythe]

AS I understand it... the sign means no CONCEALED carry right?

Does that mean if you pull it out and put it on your belt it's no longer concealed and legal?

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by Detector

I've pretty much stayed out of this issue until I had weighted the information from both sides because I don't have a preference either way. There are few matter I feel I can voice an opinion on at this point.

Personally I feel the state statute should be left alone as is. From the information I've seen the good of CC far out weighs the bad. Statistics show crime goes down, what more needs to be said.

This idea of putting up No Guns signs is just short of stupid. The argument was made that it would designate government location where the CC doesn't apply, but isn't that the whole idea of the benefit of CC? The criminal not knowing who might pull out a weapon? You put up a sign and you've taken the guess work out of the criminals choices. A safe zone for criminals.

Criminals in general are stupid and it would be in the best interests of the city to keep them that way

Instead, I think it should be up to the CC license to state/train them that it is their responsibility to know where they can and cannot carry. Let the criminal feel there could be a person carrying a weapon at any location don't put up a sign telling them where they're safe. I suggest the CC people should be told if they plan to spend any time in a city where they don't know they should go to the local PD and after showing their CC permit receive a list of places where CC is not allowed.

I do think it should be up to the business owner if they want to put up a No Guns sign(private property). Stupid in my opinion, but I'm a believer in let the businesses owner run their own business. If they make stupid decisions thats their problem.

[Made in the USA]

Originally Posted by Value Pack

Alco has a sign up and Walmart does not. I got to wondering...why?

Walmart has to be admired for the fact that their decisions to do this or that are normally well thought out. They want to make money, be successful and keep people coming in the door. They don't let their "feelings" get in the way of research and known facts.

This is what Walmart policy is:

"We prefer that if a customer carries a firearm they keep it concealed or in their automobile. If a customer comes into the store with one in open sight and it causes other customers to be uncomfortable we will ask the customer to please take their firearm outside. Thank you for your question and comments. - Wal-Mart Corporate Communications"

I would bet that in a few months when things cool down that the sign at Alco will disappear like the sign at Applebees.

If you didn't carry in Walmart, you would be the only person without a weapon!

[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

[Value Pack]

There is a poll at the beginning of this thread now.

"Should the City of Dodge City pass it's own Concealed Carry Laws?"

[lurker]

Polls are fun V-P but that one is too vague. I would vote YES if the city mirrored the State's law as written to allow the Municipal Court the monie$ that will go to the District Court SHOULD a person violate well known C-C prohibitions.

[MetalGear]

I do not own a gun and do not plan to get a permit to carry, but I do have feelings on useless city laws.Besides the obvious objections of gun permit holders and the benefits of concealed carriers being where crimes are being committed, I feel the City is using absurd reasoning when they say they are only adding clarity to the state law. If every municipality is allowed to pass their own version of a state law how can that add clarity? If I need I can study one state law, but how could I hope to know what every hick town in Kansas and passed as a city ordinance?

[Value Pack]

City shouldn’t meddle with state’s concealed-carry law

An open letter to the Dodge City commissioners:

Currently you are in the process of considering a ban on individuals carrying a concealed weapon in many areas of Dodge City where state law does not prohibit them to do so.

I do not have a permit, nor do I have any intention of obtaining one at this time.

However, I feel that it would be a mistake to put such an ordinance into effect. It only shows mistrust in the licensed individuals' who must undergo a training program before obtaining said license ability to know when, where and how to use said weapons if the necessity ever arises. Further, it will only embolden criminals to use guns in said areas because they will not have to worry about someone in the area being armed and able to intervene and stop them. Because most police officials are in uniform/marked cars, they can be easy to avoid if a criminal really wants to. Not so with concealed-carry individuals, who cannot be spotted until they wish to be.

It is my belief that all citizens of Dodge City will be a lot safer if the city does not meddle with the current Kansas concealed gun law.

Harry Wolfenbarger Jr.

Dodge City

Daily Globe of Feb 19, 2006