Arizona Gun Laws

[If you disagree with what I'm about to say, please leave a comment explaining your point of view.] Arizona gun laws are peculiar at best. At worst, they’re insane. Under current law, we have folks walking around with guns strapped to their waists or concealed in a pocket, proclaiming their right to protect themselves. No need for background checks or classes in safe handling, no need for permits for anyone 21 or older. Only Alaska and Vermont have similar laws regarding guns. And now there’s legislation pending to allow students and teachers to carry those same guns on college campuses. From peculiar to insane. One would think we were still galloping into town, hitching up our horses, and striding into the nearest saloon to toss down a shot, then challenging the local bad guy to a shootout in the street. But even in Tombstone in the 19th century you had to leave your gun with the sheriff when you came into town. The Second Amendment says, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” “A well regulated militia” back then suggested a citizen militia which might be needed for the protection of our nation. But that was over two hundred years ago, and “the times they are a changin’,” as Bob Dylan suggested. We no longer need a civilian militia just waiting to spring into action. We have police, military, even National Guardsmen there for our protection. I can’t think of many scenarios where I’d want everyone around me to be carrying concealed weapons, just waiting for some bad guy to look cross-eyed at them. It seems to me that’s just asking for bad things to happen. How, for example, does one know the difference between the bad guys and the good guys? And even if you do recognize a bad guy, what if you miss him and take out one or more of the good guys who just happen to be in your line of fire? What if you approach a guy in a car on a dark night, looking for some help with your out-of-gas car, and he thinks you’re a bad guy about to zap him and he beats you to it and lets you have one through the window? What about all the road rage out there, nearly every car, every driver, having ready access to a gun, just waiting for you to flip him the bird as he cuts you off at the pass, just waiting to pull up beside you at the next red light and, smiling, shoot you in the face? Too many awful possibilities, too few positives.