KY - More people carrying handguns into Capitol
More than 50 people brought guns into Kentucky's Capitol over the past three months, at a time when the legislature was involved in heated debates on a variety of emotional issues, including proposed new restrictions on illegal immigrants and on mountaintop removal coal mining, both of which resulted in angry demonstrations.
Gun rights proponents consider it no big deal that people can stroll through the Capitol armed. But critics believe they should have to leave their weapons at home.
"The Capitol should be a safe place, where legislators can perform their responsibility as representatives of the democracy, to debate issues with openness and honesty and without fear," said Democratic state Rep. Jim Wayne of Louisville. "When we have people carrying guns into the Capitol, I think that's a threat to legislators. It's a very dangerous situation. We're debating very volatile issues sometimes. People who have mental illnesses or people whose minds are twisted through substances could be in the gallery, and we could be at risk."
Categories: Government, Bill Of Rights, Gun Control
Tags: Kentucky Gun control Gun Rights Government
I voted to "dislike" this article due to what I perceived as a distinct bias against the right to bear arms. The heavy-handed "final answer" paragraph which was obviously anti-gun was designed to leave the overall impression that free carry of weapons was a "negative" option. Whereas, the legislators had damn well BETTER be nervous and respectful of their constituents, if they are to conduct their business properly. They are SERVANTS and instead of hiding behind an increasing army of black-clad SWAT type thugs breaking into our homes in the dead of night, killing innocents and family pets and terrorizing CITIZENS perhaps it is time that our so-called "representatives" understand where true power is derived and who rightfully carries that power -- whether in the Capitol or in the streets OR in private homes.
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