Concealed guns: Our volatility is argument against
By Sylvester Brown
Post-Dispatch
02/10/2004
I'm guessing that I will receive e-mails about Suzanne and James Butler.
Friday night, a neighbor broke into the Butlers' Phelps County home with a rifle. He shot James in the neck and Suzanne in the hand after she tried to grab the gun. Although wounded, James Butler managed to get his handgun. He shot and killed the intruder, David Brown, 45.
Someone will write to say the couple's story underscores the need for Missouri's concealed-weapons law.
I've written a couple of columns critical of the law. It's on hold while the Missouri Supreme Court reviews its constitutionality. I've received tons of angry calls, e-mails and letters from those in favor of carrying guns. Whenever police shoot a bad guy or a homeowner defends himself with a firearm, gun advocates write saying the story validates their constitutional right to bear arms.
I'm anticipating that e-mail because I got one in November after another home invasion.
It mentioned a man who entered the home of an elderly couple in north St. Louis County through a basement window. The intruder, Jerrod L. Cain, held shears to the neck of the wife and told the husband to get his wallet from the bedroom. The husband, a former Marine, went to the bedroom all right. He retrieved his pistol and shot Cain dead.
The reader asked how I felt about the shooting.
"Hurray for the couple," I wrote back. "Thank God the man was able to save his and his wife's life."
I'll have the same response if asked about the Butlers.
But, I haven't changed my mind about the proposed gun law. First, these incidents happened in the home. It's already legal to have firearms in your house. The new law gives people the right to carry concealed weapons on the streets. That concerns me.
I'm not concerned about those who apply for licenses, take courses and lock up their guns. I'm worried about depressed teenagers, angry co-workers and stressed-out drivers. I'm worried about people like me.
About 25 years ago, I entered Highway 70 at Jennings Station Road heading east. The traffic was thick and slow. A frustrated driver tried to whip in front of me. He hit my car and kept going. I was young and stupid. Instead of calling the police later, I pursued him. In and out of traffic we weaved. I cursed. I pulled alongside him and threw stuff, like my coffee cup. Still, he kept going. I was out of my ridiculously immature mind. The chase ended in south St. Louis. It wasn't pretty, but at least I'm here to talk about it. It could have been much worse if either of us had a gun.
Then, about 10 years ago, my wife was attacked on our office parking lot near Washington and Compton in midtown. I heard her muffled screams from inside the office after the guy tackled her and ran off with her purse. I furiously looked for him down alleys and around the neighborhood. I thank the stars I wasn't armed then, either.
One more story: I was coming out of a business in a rough neighborhood. As I headed for my car, a 4x4 suddenly zoomed up, brakes screeching. About six young guys jumped out and seemed to run directly toward me. My "fight or flight" response activated instinctively. Were there a gun, my hand would have been on the trigger. I felt so foolish as the energetic young men quickly jetted right on past me.
Gun advocates probably feel passage for a conceal-carry law is long overdue. I don't agree. I worry about stolen guns on the streets, more firearms accessible to children, angry spouses and exaggerated incidences of road rage.
I worry about the Average Joe and Jane - people who don't normally carry guns but can be influenced by its false sense of power. Or the usually nice guy unexpectedly shoved into a not-so-nice situation. Those are the people I worry about.
People like me.
E-mail: sylvesterbrown@post-dispatch.com
Phone: 314-340-8374
Talk in his forum: STLtoday.com/sbrown
Perhaps Honorable Graybeard forum members will e-mail Mr. Brown, say Dali Llama.