It is great that the people of Kansas now have some way to carry a
weapon for self defense without risking going to prison, but frankly, the right
to bear arms is just that: It is a right. As the
fine folks at Gunowners of America
put it:
"The Second Amendment guarantees that 'the right of the people to keep and
bear arms shall not be infringed.' This means that law-abiding citizens
should not need to beg the government for permission to carry a firearm.
That would turn the "right" to bear arms into a mere
"privilege."
By definition, anything that you need a permit for is not a right. It is a
privilege granted by government which can be taken away as easily as
given. For example, you don't need a permit to comment on a blog, write a
letter, article or book. You have a right to free
speech. How is the bearing of arms any different? Don't you have a
right (a God-given or natural right) to do that as well?
So far, only one state in the Union, Vermont, truly respects the rights of its
citizens to carry what they wish, where they wish, with no permission by the
state necessary. This Kansas bill is a nice start for that state, but it
is far from true recognition and respect for what is one of the most
fundamental of human rights.
