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Associate Press quotes OpenCarry.org's John Pierce on Iowa gun permit surge

M

Mike

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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-iowagunpermits,0,2318090.story

SNIP

DES MOINES, Iowa — Gun owners and potential gun owners are flocking to sheriff's offices across Iowa in the wake of a new state law that requires sheriffs under most circumstances to issue permits to carry concealed weapons.

According to The Des Moines Register, several sheriffs' offices reported receiving 10 to 20 times as many applications on Monday as they do most days.

The new law, which took effect last Saturday, limits the discretion local sheriffs previously had in denying permits without explanation.

. . .

"You're seeing just pent-up demand," said John Pierce, co-founder of OpenCarry.org, a national Internet advocate for laws that let people carry weapons openly.

"What you have is a lot of citizens who knew the sheriff could turn them down for any reason or no reason at all," he said.
 
since9

since9

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Messages
6,964
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Awesome!

From the article:

"Jasper County Sheriff Michael Balmer said the new law changes the way he issues permits. "We denied people a permit in the past if their only reason was that they wanted to carry a gun," he said. "If they couldn't come up with a reason, I wouldn't issue one.""

No, of course you wouldn't, Sheriff Balmer. That's because you do not understand the fundamental nature of the U.S. Constititution, the set of principles upon which our country, including its justice system and the laws which, along with the Constitution itself, you swore to protect.

The law as it used to be written may have allowed you to deny a permit, but the principles upon which all U.S. law is founded did not.

Balmer said under the new law, he's concerned people with short tempers are going to start waving guns instead of fists.
Click to expand...

Apparently, Sheriff Balmer's understanding of basic human nature is as flawed as his understanding of our nation's Constitution. Here in Colorado, a shall-issue concealed carry state which also allows open carry, we're not "waving guns instead of fists." In fact, those of us who carry, either concealed or unconcealed, are significantly less likely to get into a tussle than those who do not.

More to the point, Des Moines scores a 7 on violent crime and an 8 on property crime on this site, while Colorado Springs scores a 5 on violent crime and a 6 on property crime. As per the site: "The crime indices range 1-10. A higher number corresponds with more crime. Our crime rates are based on FBI data."

Sheriff Balmer (and others like him in Iowa and all other states): You've apparently learned some falsehoods. Robert Heinlein once said, "Staying young requires the unceasing cultivation of the ability to unlearn old falsehoods." If I may suggest, it's time for you and the others to start unlearning.
 
OldCurlyWolf

OldCurlyWolf

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2010
Messages
907
Location
Oklahoma
since9 said:
Awesome!

From the article:

"Jasper County Sheriff Michael Balmer said the new law changes the way he issues permits. "We denied people a permit in the past if their only reason was that they wanted to carry a gun," he said. "If they couldn't come up with a reason, I wouldn't issue one.""

No, of course you wouldn't, Sheriff Balmer. That's because you do not understand the fundamental nature of the U.S. Constititution, the set of principles upon which our country, including its justice system and the laws which, along with the Constitution itself, you swore to protect.

The law as it used to be written may have allowed you to deny a permit, but the principles upon which all U.S. law is founded did not.



Apparently, Sheriff Balmer's understanding of basic human nature is as flawed as his understanding of our nation's Constitution. Here in Colorado, a shall-issue concealed carry state which also allows open carry, we're not "waving guns instead of fists." In fact, those of us who carry, either concealed or unconcealed, are significantly less likely to get into a tussle than those who do not.

More to the point, Des Moines scores a 7 on violent crime and an 8 on property crime on this site, while Colorado Springs scores a 5 on violent crime and a 6 on property crime. As per the site: "The crime indices range 1-10. A higher number corresponds with more crime. Our crime rates are based on FBI data."

Sheriff Balmer (and others like him in Iowa and all other states): You've apparently learned some falsehoods. Robert Heinlein once said, "Staying young requires the unceasing cultivation of the ability to unlearn old falsehoods." If I may suggest, it's time for you and the others to start unlearning.
Click to expand...

:shocker: :D

Sarcasm off.

Actually well said.
 
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