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Concealed weapons won't make us safer

Gun enthusiasts such as the writer of the letter "Concealed weapons could cut crime rate" (Jan. 16) often cite flawed research that falsely attributes falling crime rates in some states to concealed weapons, instead of to improved police practices and changing demographics.

Allowing anybody to carry a concealed handgun would make Maryland more dangerous. And carrying a concealed gun would have been no help against the high-profile crime sprees of recent years. For instance, the Washington-area snipers crawled into their car's closed trunk and shot through a peephole with a highly accurate sniper rifle.

Many other killers shoot to settle scores with family or other close acquaintances such as those involved in the illegal drug trade.

If Maryland makes it easy for anyone to carry a handgun, the death toll from domestic disputes will increase dramatically and our state will become a lot less safe.

Matt Fenton
Lutherville

The writer is a member of the board of CeaseFire Maryland Inc.



Edit to add his profile from ceasefire:

Matthew Fenton - Mr. Fenton is an engineer at Maryland MTA, and a longtime supporter of gun control legislation. He survived robbery and a head injury from a shooting in a 1980 attack. He has served on the Handgun Roster Board and currently serves as Registrar of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter, Lutherville, MD.

Matt Fenton is a caricature of a gun banner.  He correlates gun ownership with illegal activity because he can imagine only criminals wanting guns.

To paraphrase a quote of someone involved with MD gun politics that I respect very much,  "When these pigs start squealing, it's time to twist the knife,"  In other words, if Matty boy is squirming, we're doing something right.

After the bitch slapping dealt to the antis last year we can expect a fuill assault from them this year.

Lil' Rob Garagiola already is putting up his AWB again,

Got a link - was that in the Sun?

The guy has no facts at all, just wild scare stories.  That should immediately discredit him.

MD is #1 in robberies, and has been for years.  Scholars such as John Lott have demonstrated with real research that gun ownership by law abiding citizens, and the ability to carry to protect yourself, does have a real effect on the crime rate.

It would be hard to argue that MD's gun control has kept us safe:

http://www.mcrkba.org/MarylandCrime.PDF

Quoted: Got a link - was that in the Sun? The guy has no facts at all, just wild scare stories.  That should immediately discredit him. MD is #1 in robberies, and has been for years.  Scholars such as John Lott have demonstrated with real research that gun ownership by law abiding citizens, and the ability to carry to protect yourself, does have a real effect on the crime rate. It would be hard to argue that MD's gun control has kept us safe: http://www.mcrkba.org/MarylandCrime.PDF

In the Scum Paper.  link

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