We the people of the United States of America are guaranteed certain rights by the United States Constitution. It is the interpretation of these rights that seem to cause us to be at odds with one another.

One of the most debated and discussed rights provided by our founding fathers was the right to keep and bear arms. The 2nd Amendment gives you and I the right to own, maintain, and own firearms. It is up to us to exercise that right with responsibility.

Legislation was put before the Louisiana House Criminal Justice Committee that would allow Louisiana citizens the right to carry a concealed weapon on their person without securing a permit to carry that weapon in such a fashion.

That legislation was killed, for lack of a better term, by a 8 to 5 vote yesterday.

Did the committee get this wrong? I think they did.

I believe most gun owners are very responsible people. I believe they have taken the time to undergo training and safety classes to ensure the safety of themselves and those around them.

I realize the danger to law enforcement. But most law enforcement officials will tell you it's not the responsible gun owner that causes the problem. It's the outlaw and the criminal. Personally, I'd like to know I could protect myself from a drug crazed idiot should he or she decide that my life is worth nothing.

There were many very well respected and knowledgeable people who spoke out in favor of this legislation. Alas, those who oppose the legislation seem to be under the false pretense that criminals give a crap about the rules. They don't. They can get a weapon with or without a permit. They don't care about your life or the lives of others.

The gun is not the problem. It's the person that carries the gun unlawfully that is the biggest "gun issue" in this land. I think giving the responsible gun owner access to his constitutional right is a great way to keep criminals at bay or better yet, eliminate them since the judicial system wants to keep letting them loose on society.

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