Former NRA pres defends concealed carry

The U’s policy allowing concealed guns on campus could be overturned in the next four years, but local support could prevent that, said Sandra Froman, former president of the National Rifle Association.

Froman spoke to an audience of 24 at the S.J. Quinney College of Law on Tuesday about the Supreme Court’s ruling on D.C. v. Heller, a case that overturned Washington D.C.’s gun ban to uphold an individual’s right to own a gun in the city. However, under the administration of President-elect Barack Obama, the ever-changing law and culture of America could make Heller a briefly lived victory for pro-gun activists, she said.

All of Obama’s staff appointments support gun bans, Froman said. After he appoints new Supreme Court justices by the end of his term, the tide could easily shift if they hear a case that carries any precedence in Utah.

“It’s scary, (Heller) was only determined by a five-to-four vote,” Froman said. “It could easily go the other way.”

The change has the potential to leave U students defenseless in a dire situation, she said. However, culture might stand in the way of gun bans on a state level. She said the two best ways to encourage support on a local level is to join the NRA and speak out about the right to own a gun.

Students at the event said they hope Froman is right.

John Demass, a senior and a gun owner, said that he joined the NRA on Saturday. He said he’s happy that 3rd District Judge Robert Hilder, who was appointed for a seat in Utah’s Court of Appeals, was rejected largely because he ruled in favor of the U’s former campus gun ban, which was overturned by the Utah Supreme Court in 2006. The court’s rejection of Hilder could show promise that pro-gun activists have a fighting chance of retaining ownership of their firearms, even if the country changes in the federal level.

Froman said this is good news for a school campus such as the U, because the tragedies of school shootings need to be minimized.

“When seconds count, the police are only minutes away,” she said.

In most situations, including incidents such as Columbine or Virginia Tech, the only people involved in a school shooting are the criminal and victims, who need to be able to put an end to a deadly situation before it gets any worse, she said.

Brian Tenney, president of the Second Amendment Students of Utah, who attended the event, said he appreciated Froman’s insight and information about the Heller case. Tenney is one of the thousands of Americans who have flocked to their local firearms shops since Obama’s election. He said he’s throwing in his support by buying as many assault rifles as he can before a ban might find ground in Utah, and prevent him from buying his favorite assault rifle.

m.mcfall@chronicle.utah.edu

1 comments

Miek Sosik

Wed Nov 26 2008 15:17

I am in the process of relocating to Salt Lake City from Columbus, GA. and the gun laws have been of great concern to me. Here in GA we have a right to bear freely. As well as conceal.

The only shootings that you here about since these laws have been in place are at the low-end night clubs and the illegal drug activities that take place. These situations are completely different than just living your everyday life and falling victim to some imbalanced individuals who decide they're going to kill someone.

The right to bear and conceal protects so much more than it poses an issue for the public. People are a lot less likely to be offensive and will be more reserved in their aggresive personalities when they aren't sure of holding victory in a battle. Not knowing the level of defense another person has makes people double think about their decisions to attack. This is the level of security the law itself provides just being in place, whether a person conceals a firearm or not. One person to the next just doesn't know if someone is holding a firearm but there is always a possibility. That is with or without the concealed weapons law.

The criminals that are concealing weapons are going to carry them regardless, until they change their way of living. That is not something the law is going to change. The change has to be made within ones own lifestyle. The concealed weapons law doesn't encourage the criminals nor does it protect them. The concealed weapons law provides legal protection for upstanding citizens and makes a very crucial psychological impact on the judgment of the criminal or angered mind.

To not have the right to bear and conceal will subject the innocent public to being victimized and living in fear. Fear is an emotion that causes people to live sheltered. Living a sheltered life causes people to emotionally and psychologically implode, disturbing the balance of ones reason. This type of imbalance and disturbance to a persons psychological state can possibly cause a reaction opposite psychological implosion. The person may become aggresive and lash out and possibly become a threat to society. The very type of threat we are trying so hard to protect ourselves and loved ones from.

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