THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 16, 1995 TAG: 9507140008
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Thousands of concealed-firearm permits will be issued in Hampton Roads this month, under a greatly relaxed law that took effect July 1.
Earlier, judges could deny a permit if the applicant did not display good character or show a need for a concealed weapon. Some judges turned down nearly everyone.
Now, virtually any law-abiding resident 21 or older can obtain a permit - no matter how the judge personally feels about having more concealed weapons on the streets.
The state requires no firearms training, unless the judge issuing the permit requires it.
Fortunately for most area residents, the judges in six Hampton Roads cities - Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Newport News - are mandating training.
This may be a less dangerous place if more people carrying concealed weapons know how to use them properly.
Many Virginians, especially men, practically grew up firing rifles and shotguns. Presumably most of them know how to handle those weapons safely.
But a handgun is as different from a rifle as a motorcycle is from a car. With or without any judge-imposed training requirement, the purchaser of a handgun would be foolish not to learn everything about it: how to fire it accurately and clean it thoroughly, how to unjam it, what its range is and what dangers it presents.
When you do something wrong with your VCR, nobody dies. When you do something wrong with a handgun, someone might, including you.
Norfolk Circuit Judge Lydia C. Taylor noted that we demand training for an automobile because of its deadly potential. She said we should do no less with a gun.
Hampton would be wise to join its sister cities in requiring handgun training. As smart gun owners know, guns aren't toys. ILLUSTRATION: Drawing
by CNB