Mike wrote:
Wynder wrote:
Because, even in its quote as a whole, the message is still in context with regards to open carry.
GunGuys pulled that quote from a January 2006 (6th, I believe) story from the News Journal/Delaware Online which is archived and only available if you pay for it now, not that it makes much difference from where the quote came.
Can you get the full article or proper cite to it with all his comments from that article?
Charles M. Oberle III:
"I read with alarm that the General Assembly may be prepared to amend Delaware law as it pertains to the right to carry a concealed deadly weapon. Essentially the argument is that 34 other states have passed such legislation, and the right of self-protection requires that a person be permitted to carry a concealed weapon. These arguments are as phony as a three-dollar bill.
The fact that legislators are cowed by the National Rifle Association says nothing about the wisdom of such laws. Under current Delaware law, virtually anyone, excepting felons, may strap on a holster and carry a gun in plain view. You can even carry a rifle over your shoulder and walk around with it.
As Delaware's attorney general, I frequently passed upon applications to carry a concealed weapon. I never understood why someone making night deposits felt safer with a concealed gun rather than carrying a holstered gun in plain view. Common sense would suggest a robber or mugger would be less likely to tangle with someone visibly carrying a weapon. Police carry their firearms openly.
Before anyone votes in favor of such legislation, I am sure protection will be provided for lawmakers, government officials, and I hope schools. There is no doubt in my mind that Legislative Hall, government offices and courts will forbid concealed weapons regardless of whether someone has a permit. Of course, these institutions have security guards and metal detectors at taxpayer expense.
Legislative Hall, government offices and the courts will certainly have a "check your gun" policy before entering. The security in place will ably prevent any violation. What about the rest of us?
Are we going to allow people to carry concealed deadly weapons into schools and athletic events, churches, hospitals, day-care centers, shopping malls, bars, restaurants, and night clubs, amusement parks, workplaces, grocery stores and movie theaters?
At none of these locations will there be taxpayer-financed security guards and metal detectors to enforce a prohibition against carrying firearms. Unless addressed by the law, such locations may not be able to prevent carrying weapons onto the premises.
Expanding Delaware's law to allow nearly anyone to carry a concealed weapon is horrible public policy and absolutely unnecessary. I implore the General Assembly to think carefully what such a law would actually means. Delaware's current law works just fine".