Are you a bad person?
I’m not sure what defines “bad” in this brave new world we live in, but the question has importance to me. Do you consider yourself a good person or a bad person?
Don’t answer yet! Otherwise I may have to hurt you.
I was reading an article about concealed carry in South Carolina and one line jumped out and it bothered me.
Over the past 10 years, South Carolina has become a much safer place to live, work and raise a family. Since the General Assembly wisely chose to allow good citizens to carry guns for self-defense, the violent crime rate has sharply declined. And although the mainstream news media largely avoid reporting such facts, the truth is more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens equals less crime.
So are you “good”. Because if you are not. I may just be coming for you. The state government of South Carolina has implied that you cannot protect yourself effectively, or not at all, and that is good for “bad” people.
When the state decides who is good and bad then we are all categorized cattle.
Even “bad” people have the right to protect themselves from others. No matter what the state says
August 30th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
I think the choice of words is relevant here. They didn’t say “good people versus bad people” They said “good citizens.” That combination of words has been used a lot over the many years to suggest someone who is not just a citizen, but takes that role seriously…to incluce things like, looking out for neighbors, voting, community involvement, law abiding…etc. So, they’re basically saying that it was wise to pass the law to facilitate law abiding people defending themselves and maybe not even too much of a stretch to say defending others. We can debate if “bad citizens, i.e. law breakers” also have the right to concealed carry….but I don’t think the phrase is just about “good vs bad” people and how you define a global “good,” but I do think the term “good citizen” is fairly commonly understood. I could be wrong, or I could be giving the reporter too much credit.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
Heh: The ad to the right that came up is for the Utimak.
Slogan: “Good people need good weapons”.
August 30th, 2006 at 9:26 pm
Allowing citizens of upstanding character vs those of questionable character makes for better statistics to battle the antis with. And it isnt like they are being that selective. Pretty much anyone that can own a gun under federal law can get a license in a shall-issue state if they have the patience to make 2 photos, get prints made and sit for a 3 hour course. This is one saturday afternoon’s worth of effort at most.
I am always open to more freedom, but the CCW system we have here in FL doesnt really seem that much of an affront to liberty. It took me like a week of mostly waiting to get mine. And in return for this minor nuisance, we accuulated the anecdotes and statistics that have slowly legalized public carrying of firearms in 80 percent of the states in this country.
August 31st, 2006 at 12:34 am
Well, other than the part where you give up your privacy, fork over a hundred dollars in fees, and be fingerprinted like a common criminal, then have your records in a police system, all to have permission to bear arms.
Hey, it’s a minor nuisance. It’s not that much of a compromise, and it certainly helps cops. It’s still a compromise on a fundamental human right.