State fair guns, Asking for trouble
or, Publisher airs his whining, hysterical paranoia from his ivory tower. Comments in parentheses are those of the Webmistress.
By HENRY J. WATERS III, Publisher, Columbia Daily Tribune
Published Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Knowing its decision was controversial, the Missouri State Fair Commission quietly decided to allow concealed weapons everywhere on the fairground except in the grandstands, where liquor is sold.
This policy contradicts the one common in other state facilities and in most private businesses, where firearms and other weapons are explicitly forbidden. At the state fair, prohibition signs refer only to grandstands.
The curious reasoning of concealed-guns supporters was exemplified by the comment of Rep. Todd Smith, R-Sedalia, who said he had no problem with the permissive policy. "It puts the bad guys on notice that they may not be the only ones carrying guns on the fairgrounds," said Smith, who was a strong supporter of the new law allowing concealed weapons.
It also should put every person and family on notice that no telling how many members of the crowd whose elbows they brush might be carrying heat in a venue where violence is possible. People drink on the grounds. Outbursts of "concourse rage" can erupt. When good old boys or girls get mad, the opportunity for mayhem is obvious if they have small handguns at the ready. (EXCUSE ME???)
Chances are no such disaster will occur. People, even state fair crowds, are inherently civilized. Criminals bent on committing gun crimes are not likely to choose a crowded fairground setting. (Oh yeah, tons of people carrying cash, yep, that is the LAST place a criminal would go to cause problems.) But indisputably, the more guns people randomly carry, the more chance of injury or death to innocent victims.
The fair commission must be populated with gun lovers, rationalizing to themselves they merely are following the law. But as safety consultant Byron Smith told The Associated Press, "There is a very high cause for concern, and itÂ’s astonishing Missouri is taking on this liability."
Indeed. The best and only way to protect against such liability in any given venue is to make and publicize strict prohibition policies. Having made none, the state can expect to be found partially liable if someone is injured or killed by anyone toting a concealed weapon on its fairground.
