Monday, January 09, 2006

Almost ready to see the light

This article from the San Francisco Chronicle is about a woman who ran afoul of the concealed handgun law in California because the restraining order against her abusive husband had expired. Setting aside the fact that the law is unconstitutional in the first place, busting her on a technicality like this is an atrocious abuse of the law. But, I just wanted to comment on the reporter's closing paragraph:
The law against carrying concealed guns makes good sense. But so many women every year are killed by their abusive boyfriends and husbands. Restraining orders, as we know, can't stop them. The police often can't stop them. I don't know what the solution is. But something's wrong when, in trying to keep herself alive, the terrorized woman becomes the criminal.
Ms. Ryan (the writer) doesn't mention any reasons why the law makes good sense. But in reading the rest of the paragraph, I think here is one reporter who is beginning to see the light. If someone were to take her to the range a couple of times and familiarize her with handguns, she might begin to change her mind.