Winston-Salem Journal LTE's TH 12/08/11

Sum It Up
The Sum It Up question from Sunday was: Was the state legislature right in allowing concealed weapons in public parks?

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The N.C. state legislature was exactly right in allowing concealed weapons in public parks. This allows lawfully permitted citizens to protect their persons and their families as well as others around them. The mere presence of a firearm once displayed to a criminal normally results in the altercation ceasing. The politicians who chip away at this law through their misunderstood and misguided policies are protecting no one except the criminals who prey on others in these "gun-protected zones." A concealed-carry permit holder should have the same restrictions on carrying a weapon as do our law-enforcement personnel. When seconds count, the police are only minutes away! Lot of truth to that statement!

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HAROLD J. BROWN

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It certainly serves no one to permit guns (concealed or not) into our parks. One only has to read the papers to appreciate the harm/death which results in using guns. It seems more protective of both children and adults to ban guns from being carried into any public setting. I certainly support the banning of guns in our parks.

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AGNES M. BARRY

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Absolutely not. What were the GOP legislators thinking, other than supporting their friends the gun lobbyists? Children and guns do not mix. To legislate such a bill was most irresponsible.

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MARY DICKINSON

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Parents shouldn't have to add worries about stray bullets from a "misunderstanding" down the path to traditional worries about poison ivy and bee stings, as their children explore the wonders of nature in our parks.

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MARTHA KENNEDY

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The N.C. state legislature was wrong in allowing concealed weapons in public parks. I support our Winston-Salem City Council in its new ordinance to ban concealed weapons in our public parks.

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SYLVIA STROUD SMITH

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Of course they weren't. Aren't there children in state parks? Children and guns are incompatible.

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JANE T. DOUGHERTY

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No. Minor disagreements are likely to escalate into shootings. It is too late to apologize after pulling the trigger.

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CHARLES E. WILSON

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In my opinion, there should be zero tolerance for concealed weapons in public parks. The action by the General Assembly is illogical and creates a more dangerous society for North Carolinians. Obviously some of our elected officials are more interested in serving the gun lobby, led by the NRA, than our children and families.

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THOMAS D. DuBOSE JR.

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Disarming law-abiding citizens? What's next, penalizing and taxing one's productivity? Oh wait, they already do that. Where will they go from here?

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MARK POWERS

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You're kidding, right? As our community mourns the death of five young people to a firearm, let's allow concealed weapons in our public parks. While we're at it, let's allow them in schools and playgrounds, too. And to those NRA supporters out there who cry "if you outlaw guns only outlaws will have them," the suspect in these killings was no outlaw. Shame on our legislature and shame on us.

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SUZANNE CARROLL

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The state legislature was wrong and insane in voting to allow concealed weapons in public parks. Perhaps we could compromise and designate half the parks as gun free (for the risk-averse), with the other half allowing concealed weapons (for the thrill-seekers). I know which park I'd like to picnic in.

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ANNE PAISLEY

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Was the state legislature right in allowing concealed weapons in public parks? Absolutely not! Is it so that one can defend oneself? Two guns do not make a right.

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ANNE COLTRANE

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The legislature is allowing guns in parks to protect us from non-existent criminals and making voting more difficult to protect us from non-existent voter fraud. These people live in a dream world — more like a nightmare world. Could we please vote them out and get some rational leaders next time?

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TOMMY H. SIMMONS

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Please let's keep our public parks safe places to take our children and grandchildren by continuing to prohibit concealed weapons there.

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WILMA LOWRY

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There is no place or reason for concealed weapons in public parks — places populated by children, families, little leaguers, joggers, athletes and dog walkers. So if I scold a dog walker for an unleashed and unruly dog, rather than calling me an unprintable name he can shoot me instead and claim I was a threat?

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BETTY MAUCERI

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There should be zero tolerance for concealed weapons in public parks. How interesting the General Assembly has reduced restrictions for weapons and yet desperately wants to tighten restrictions for voters. This makes no sense.

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ANNE GRIFFIS WILSON

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Concealed weapons have no place in public parks, just as they do not belong in schools. They are inappropriate in places where children and young people are present.

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CAMA MERRITT

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The state legislature is not right to permit concealed weapons in public parks. Guns, concealed or not, promote fear and the concept that we are militaristic people. Remember that those who live by the sword will perish by the sword. We do not need guns, we need a healthy society.

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EARL SCOTT

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The few, although vocal, supporters of concealed weapons in public parks should not be allowed to make it impossible for the rest of us to be able to use the facilities for which our taxes pay. The extended personal "right to bear arms," as the NRA and its supporters broadly interpret the Second Amendment, should not diminish the freedoms of the rest of us. Will picnics for our families and friends necessarily now be in our own backyards? Will parents no longer allow their children to exercise on public playgrounds? Those people who are afraid to go out in public unarmed should, perhaps, stay home.

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KATHERINE McGINNIS

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There is no good reason to have concealed weapons in public parks. The legislature is caving in to the gun lobby while our city council is trying to do the right thing by keeping its citizens a little bit safer. We should support a ban on all weapons in public parks.

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LAURA PHAIL

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Was the state legislature right in allowing concealed weapons in public parks? Absolutely!

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JERRY ISAACS

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I find it personally outrageous that concealed handguns would be considered legal in any city park. I am morally, ethically and civically offended.

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BRENDA PENNEY

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No. It's creepy to think of fellow walkers carrying weapons.

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ELIZABETH WILSON

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I, too, want to protect my family in city and county parks and greenways, which is why I want to thank the tireless and often thankless 24/7 efforts of the Winston-Salem and Kernersville police departments and the Forsyth County Sheriff's Department who keep them safe. The Republicans in the General Assembly were merely pandering to conservative extremists in hope that they can remain the majority through their votes as they have done with many issues this year.

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HENRY FANSLER

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Making concealed weapons legal in public parks may have people without permits think about staying away or getting a permit.

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ELIZABETH R. ERVIN

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Guns trigger thoughts of death, violence and injury. They are not instruments of peace and safety. I would be happy to never see a gun in any public or private space. A smiling face brings much more security.

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LAURA SPANGLER