New Yorkers shall carry — eventually

Kudos to the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association for putting pressure on the Evil Empire State to pass a "shall issue" concealed carry law — bringing the state in line with most of the rest of the country.

And kudos to the New York Sun for giving the story some ink — despite using the term "gun enthusiasts." (Are ACLU members "speech enthusiasts"?)

Converting New York to a "shall issue" state does seem an insurmountable task, but we've come a long way since Florida enacted the first such law back in 1987 — and you've got to start somewhere.

The best tactic now is simply to keep the issue on the table. Don't give politicians a pass because you assume it will never happen.

Make them explain why they don't trust the unwashed masses to carry guns. Make them explain why New York is not one of the 40 states in the Union with a "shall issue" law. And why the "blood in the streets" and "shootouts at the OK Corrals" — insipidly warned about on every editorial page in those states — never materialized.

And make them explain why the New York State Constitution contains no provision for the citizens' right to keep and bear arms.* (One of only six states, including California, New Jersey, and Maryland. Surprised, right?)

With all that explaining, eventually the unwashed masses will sit up, take notice, and demand their rights. It may take a while, but eventually they'll notice.

Link: N.Y. Gun Enthusiasts Call for Automatic Issuing of Permits



*Article 2 of the New York State Consolidated Laws contains nearly identical language to the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (And with only one comma instead of three!), but obviously the legislature isn't too concerned about adhering to it.