The UF population, having engaged in debate concerning carrying concealed weapons on campus, would do well to reread Wednesday's article "Police name suspect."
This article demonstrates two truths. First, bad people ignore the law. Why do you think so many felons, such as the one who was shot Saturday, always pop up in the news for committing crimes with firearms?
The obvious answer is that, as criminals, they ignore the law by definition and obtain guns illegally. Furthermore, do you really think that someone bent on armed robbery, rape or murder will really heed the laws prohibiting them from bringing guns onto campus?
The second point is that good people with firearms are a good thing. In the article, a local convenience store clerk with a concealed weapons permit shot and wounded a felon who entered his store and began firing his weapon.
The police are a great asset to society, but what can they do the moment someone opens fire on innocent victims? Response times simply aren't quick enough to protect the people in harm's way.
The only solution to stopping threats the moment they materialize is to allow would-be victims to meet force with force. If the prospect of this disconcerts you, perhaps it might put you at ease to know that, based on a 2000 census estimate, only 2.72 percent of Florida adults have concealed weapons permits. That's right, for every 37 adults you walk by, one is licensed to pack heat.
If concealed carry really did cause gun violence, you would have seen a dozen shoot-outs by now.
