The Guardian is reporting that “momentum toward permitless (carry) is unmistakable, as new laws give millions of Americans increasingly unfettered access to firearms even as gun violence rises across the country” in what may read as a lament about so-called “constitutional carry.”
The Tuesday report focuses on adoption by three more states—Alabama, Indiana and Ohio—of permitless carry, bringing the number of such states to 24, with perhaps one or two more on the brink. The story notes in its third paragraph that “the bills have been criticized by police and gun control advocates, who argue that removing permits poses a safety risk to citizens and law enforcement officers.”
But what additional risk would peace officers face, considering that criminals already go armed without permits, and have been doing so for generations? In Washington State this month, two lawmen—Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Dominique “Dom” Calata and Everett Police Officer Dan Rocha—were both murdered on duty allegedly by armed, convicted felons who were barred by existing law from having firearms.
The man who killed Calata was shot dead by other officers at the scene. The suspect in Rocha’s murder, identified as Richard James Rotter, is being held in the Snohomish County jail on $5 million bail.
The Guardian quoted David Yamane, author of Concealed Carry Revolution: Liberalizing the Right to Bear Arms in America, observing, “It’s really picked up steam in the last decade with the progression of the idea to make it easier for people to carry concealed firearms without restrictions.”
However, contrary to what gun prohibitionists might want the public to believe, Yamane added, “It’s not throwing out all restrictions. You still can’t carry in federal buildings or on school property…” He also said only people who can legally carry a firearm are allowed to do so with permitless carry. If you’ve got a criminal record, you still can’t possess a gun. That prohibition does not appear to deter criminals.
In the midst of this tidal change toward carrying firearms for personal protection, The Trace—a pro-gun control news organ founded and supported by anti-gun billionaire Michael Bloomberg—is reporting the Biden administration exclusively provided a document to the publication regarding the administration’s “comprehensive gun crime reduction strategy.”
According to The Trace, Stefanie Feldman, deputy assistant to the president and senior adviser to the Domestic Policy Council, says that council “has organized a 12-person team to drive a gun violence reduction agenda.” Feldman’s brief on Biden’s gun control agenda may be read here.
As detailed by Feldman, “We have made strong progress by rolling out and executing on the President’s comprehensive gun crime reduction strategy.” The strategy contains these components:
- Stemming the flow of firearms used to commit violence,
- Supporting local law enforcement with federal tools and resources to put more cops on the beat and address violent crime
- Investing in evidence-based community violence interventions
- Expanding summer programming, employment opportunities, and other services and supports for teenagers and young adults to give them pathways away from crime
- Helping formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reenter their communities instead of re-offending.
The Trade report repeatedly uses the term “gun violence” while carefully avoiding the term “gun control,” instead calling it “gun reform.” Likewise, Feldman’s blog entry mentions “gun crime reduction” and “gun violence,” but not “gun control.”
