An 11-year-old girl took a loaded assault rifle, an AR-15, to the Idaho Legislature with her grandfather to support an initiative allowing concealed carry permits for all in Idaho (“Girl, 11, brings AR-15 to Idaho hearing,” Associated Press, Feb. 25). The grandfather stated a number of things: “people live in fear,” “she carries it responsibly,” “she knows how not to put her finger on the trigger,” etc.
I support carry permits and gun training. This child was obviously trained. But is it “responsible” for a child to carry an obvious weapon into a legislative chamber? We as a society are discussing these laws because some people had their children murdered by such guns. Red flag laws taking guns from those who are unstable are common sense. Soldiers are trained extensively on weapons. Frankly, using children as props to prove a point is absurd and dangerous. Carrying a semi-automatic rifle into places it is not used normally is just stupid. A reaction could injure anyone, even the child.
To promote carry permits for guns by stating hunting purpose is not the same as concealed carry protection. A false argument. Concealed carry has more ramifications than protection; for one it is concealed, it doesn’t raise fears. The grandfather got his point, society got its own.
