Van Hollen backs carry in the Capitol....But has no say in the matter

Madison - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said Thursday he would be comfortable with allowing people to carry guns in the Capitol and other state buildings.

"I don't have a problem with it, but I'm not going to have a say in that," the Republican attorney general said in an interview.

"One of the oldest arguments out there is that the criminals - the ones who aren't entitled to have firearms - are carrying concealed already," he added. "They're the ones we're worried about, not the ones who are going to be abiding by the law."

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DANGER: GAG HAZARD AHEAD

Van Hollen made his comments a day after the National Rifle Association disparaged him for how he was implementing the concealed weapons law. Van Hollen defended how he was handling the matter, saying he wanted to require those seeking permits to get at least four hours of training but that his agency would not dictate the curriculum for such classes.

"I'm a little surprised the NRA isn't grateful," Van Hollen said.

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