My Turn: How do we keep guns away from bad guys?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

http://www.topix.com/guns/2017/02/my-turn-how-do-we-keep-guns-away-from-bad-guys

The state Senate has passed SB 12, which eliminates the requirement that an applicant for a concealed carry permit be “a suitable person to be licensed.” All 10 Democratic senators voted no. The effect of this change is to remove the discretion of chiefs of police to deny permits.
...

If SB 12 passes, everyone (except convicted felons) will be allowed to carry a concealed weapon. This includes people whom a chief of police, under current law, could determine is unsuitable for a concealed carry permit: a person who has a history of getting drunk in bars and picking fights; a person who has threatened someone with a gun in the past, though never convicted of a felony; a person who has been involved in road rage incidents; a person who has been the subject of multiple domestic violence calls to 911.

Under current law, if a person has committed an act of violence below the felony level, it is legal for that person to have a gun at home. But if that person wants to carry a loaded concealed weapon in public, we have a higher standard implemented by our chiefs of police. This is what Republicans and the NRA want to abolish.

The House will vote on SB 12 on Thursday. The New Hampshire association of Chiefs of Police has spoken out against SB 12. Please add your voice. Seek out your representatives and ask these questions: Should a known drug addict be allowed to carry a loaded concealed weapon? How about the man who punched his neighbor during an argument? Or the woman who has been diagnosed a paranoid schizophrenic, and sometimes fails to take her meds?

[scscholar]

1. This is terrible. The police should be able to keep guns from people.

Why pay all of that money to have police if you're going to make it illegal for them to protect us?

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

3. The restriction which is being considered for elimination is...

...where the discretion of the chief LEO plays a role in issuing a CC permit. There's no change in who can buy a gun.

[hack89]

5. Because the cops have a long history of respecting civil rights?

And would never use their discretion in a discriminatory manner?

[Runningdawg]

2. Gun prolifiration is getting ready to

explode (literally) in this country. Its going to make the wild wild west look like a church social. If you don't own a gun a tactical vest and helmet, you will in 10 years. They say trends make their way from the coasts to the middle of the country. Not this time, places like OK where even if its not legal to carry (as long as you aren't a minority) the cops will look the other way, will open the door for the rest of the country.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

4. So I guess this will mean...

...crime and gun violence may begin to parallel that of Vermont where no laws, permits or restrictions on concealed carry have existed since 1777.

[Runningdawg]

8. Bravo for the level-headed people of Vermont

the rest of the nation isn't that smart.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

9. Maybe not but they're coming around

Other states are following Vermont's lead. AFAIK 1o other states have similar laws.

[Runningdawg]

10. I wasn't saying they were smart for lack of gun laws

just that they are smart enough to not go around shooting at people because they cut them off in traffic or have a Bernie sticker on their bumper. Here are a few links to recent increase in road rage/shootings in OK alone.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=road+rage+incidents+up+in+oklahoma

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

11. I know

Lots of people are kind of terrible at driving but shooting them isn't the answer.

[ManiacJoe]

6. The article's author seems a little confused.

Link to the actual article: http://www.concordmonitor.com/Keeping-guns-away-from-bad-guys-7957862

SB12 takes away the chief's ability to subjectively control concealed carry. It has nothing to do with Bad Guys owning guns, which is already illegal for them to do.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

7. More correctly and concisely put...

...it keeps guys the chief LEO thinks might be bad guys from CCing legally.

Or keeps folks who don't contribute to his election from...
Or keeps folks who he's not absolutely sure are good guys from...

[pablo_marmol]

12. By keeping bad guys away from guns.

Enforce laws on the books calling for lengthier prison terms for gun-related crime. We know for fact that the great majority of gun violence is committed by those with criminal records -- mostly felonies.

Edited to add: Make room for violent offenders by releasing the non-violent.

Although I wouldn't describe a person with a mental defect as a 'bad guy', I would suggest -- as nearly everyone does -- a greater emphasis on mental health. Kamala Harris left a LOT on money on the table that could have been used to improve and expand mental health care facilities in California. Unreal.

[yagotme]

13. If someone has threatened someone else with a gun in the past,

and actually did it, and wasn't convicted of a felony, well, that's part of the problem right there.

This comes about from the sheriffs in some jurisdictions of "may issue" states, just telling the applicant no for no good reason, other than "Just 'cuz".