I know I'm late to the party, but I'll give my input. The fears and concerns regarding campus and restaurant carry are unsubstantiated. They are the same knee-jerk reactions you heard when concealed carry laws were first introduced many years ago, that allowing it would turn our towns into Wild West situations where people would shoot first and ask questions later, or people would shoot each other over parking spaces. These things never happened. Then the new, revised castle doctrine/stand your ground law came up, and these same knee-jerk reactions came, stating blood would run down the streets with all the shootings over simple arguments. Guess what? Nothing happened. Why should I, as a law abiding CHP holder, be forced to disarm and not be able to protect myself or my family while enjoying a meal at Outback or Olive Garden? Why should I be forced to leave my firearm in my vehicle where there is a greater chance it will be stolen as it is no longer under my control? There are already strict laws regarding consuming alcohol while carrying a firearm. It is not allowed. Period. Do the fearmongerers want us to believe that I will somehow turn into a maniac killer jut because I'm eating in an establishment that happens to serve alcohol? Do these fearmongerers honestly think that the law against carrying will stop someone intent on doing harm to others from committing their crime? Nope. All it does is ensure these maniacs have absolutely no resistance. What is the number one thing all recent mass shootings have in common? They all happened in places where law abiding citizens were stripped of their right to carry by some ridiculous gun free zone law. Coincidence? I think not. Think it's coincidence that the Aurora shooter drove 20 plus miles, passing three theaters that allowed legal concealed carry, to shoot up the one theater that barred its patrons from carrying? Nope. The only way he could make national headlines was with a high number of casualties. Shooting up a theater with legally armed patrons would hamper his goal, so he picked the one theater that gave him the best odds of not getting shot at. Gun restriction laws do absolutely nothing to stop gun crimes, because the people committing these crimes don't care about these laws in the first place.

Controlling who can purchase guns is unrealistic. Background checks are a formality as those who have mental health issues not receiving treatment would pass under the radar. Laws governing crimes committed using guns need to be more stringent. For example, a person committing a crime while using a weapon would automatically receive five years to life. The three strike rule in Texas isn't so bad either. The punishment must be severe enough to deter the "average" person, however those who are "off" will still commit horrendous acts. Society in general is becoming more irrational and volatile. Commonsense is going by the wayside. Senseless acts are causing people to take measures to protect themselves and their families. Sadly, random acts of violence can befall anyone at any time: difficult to predict and prevent. Logically, having a gun locked in a vehicle on a school campus is not a deterrent in preventing a shoot out. How would you get to your weapon if you were in a classroom? Makes not sense to me. Carrying a weapon in restaurants and bars could be troublesome. I agree with Spickles that if you are CCW licensed, there are strict laws and regulations in place regarding using your weapon. Just because you have a CCW permit doesn't mean you can discharge your weapon "at will". Before you obtain your CCW, be sure you understand the limitations and rules BEFORE you go through the process of class and permit.

I respect Mr. Pierce and Mr. Goodman's position however I think Mr. Mclaurin shows true leadership qualities as a politician by "reserving his judgement". I say that account I can tell that none of the above are every day "concealed carriers". There are several points to the new bill that I would like to bring to light and I will try not to generalize the pro-gun vs anti-gun sides. The bill pertains to "concealed carry permit holders", with that being said I'd like to bring to light the "journey" it took me from being ignorant about every day carry to a daily routine. The first step is making the decision to become legally certified...some of you are saying "well duh"! but the fact is, once you become a CCW holder if you step out of line, just a little bit, with the strict laws that are attached to a CCW (remember this next word) "PRIVILEGE" , It's a FELONY. Most law enforcement, lawyers, and gun fanatics alike will agree with the fact that if you want or feel the need to use deadly force as a CCW holder,that you have much more to worry about than someone who shoots without a CCW permit. The statement Mr. Pierce says about the 2nd amendment is off the subject, remember that word? "Privilege".....CCW is a privilege granted to an individual from the Sheriff himself, not to be confused with the right to bear arms. If the reader would like to carry a pistol holstered to the local Food Lion in PLAIN SIGHT that it his "right". Mr. Pierce's statement about "glorifying guns" is off kilter also account the "Concealed Carrier" is very aware of the possibility of "printing". Carrying concealed makes it possible for the average law abiding FEMALE or male to stand in line at the grocery store behind a mother with kids and have a friendly conversation without making THEM nervous or scared...What I'm saying is, I don't want people who have negative opinions or are opposed to guns knowing I have one on me because I respect their choices. (I stressed "female" because I think every female should carry). Mr. Pierce's statement about allowing a CCW holder to carry in places that guns are traditionally carried is WAY OFF! Guns are carried EVERYWHERE! The main difference is as a CCW holder, we "unstrap" it before we enter the off limits areas because we don't want to go to prison. Mr. Pierce posed the question about the restaurants in Laurinburg and my reply is this.."1, I did think about the restaurants in Laurinburg and I'd have to say that I would especially feel better carrying in most of them than not armed. 2 If you want to feel warm and fuzzy about not allowing concealed carry in a public business then all you have to do is POST A CONSPICUOUS SIGN ON THE ENTRANCE 3. I'm still obligated as a CCW holder to obey that sign or face FELONY charges and it's STILL unlawful for me to consume ANY amount of alcohol. 4 I don't carry for the reasons that I can think of....I CARRY FOR THE REASONS THAT I HAVEN'T THOUGHT OF." I do thank you for your service with the armed forces and I do agree that America is starting to arm itself and that fear and panic from proposals the current administration has suggested has honed Obama into the best salesman that Wayne Lapierre could have ever hoped for. To Mr. Goodman "your" common sense may not necessarily match the common sense of a 21 year old female college student who lives in the dorm and was raped in the parking lot after class one night....Her common sense may have told her "It will not happen again". How about the waitresses out there in NC that carry their pocket books to work? You know, the places like OUTBACK, APPLEBEES, BONEFISH, CARRABA'S ETC.....They all sell alcohol, This change gives them the ability to legally arm themselves at work. Those university presidents you spoke of claim that CCW permits are unjustified on school property account of security guards in place and in the next breath claim that it would create a danger because car break ins are very common and you wouldn't want a thief having access to a gun.... So please explain to me..IF THE SECURITY CANNOT BE IN PLACE TO PREVENT BREAK INS, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE IN PLACE TO PREVENT A VIOLENT CRIME?, and as we all know that mass shootings NEVER happen in the "gun free" zone! To Mr. McLaurin, being that you are still of open mind...here is my suggestion. NC has a golden opportunity to attract new business... Mr. Pierce said so himself the "country is starting to arm itself".... research company's like "MAGPUL" giant arms and accessories company in colorado who warned Colorado... "pass the strict guns laws and we are moving our company" They did..... That MULTI MILLION DOLLAR FACTORY COULD BE BEING BUILT ON US 74 BYPASS. Magpul is by far not the only company that stands by it's principles in the guns world, and we could be soliciting them here to NC to create countless jobs. There are two sides but it's not "the gun lovers vs the gun haters" It's either a failed political structure whereas the week are dependent on big government to create an illusional snuggly blanket called "peace of mind" by creating more laws OR it's less government whereas each of us are responsible for our own actions. This proposed bill in no way allows CCW holders from disobeying CONCEALED CARRY LAW it only gives the law abiding citizen MORE FREEDOM to protect himself as all Free people should have the right to do. One last note to the opinions about Law Enforcement and Security.... They do a great job and I admire each and everyone for putting their lives in danger everyday BUT the chances of them being around when something horribly bad happens to one of you reading this is slim to none. I guess in a perfect world Rockingham would have a crime rate comparable to Kennesaw Ga. But then again in Kennesaw every family is required to OWN a firearm and ammunition for protection of city and self. About me, I'm 35 years, I did serve as a NCO in the 82nd Airborne, I once thought I could shoot, I once thought shooting 100 rounds a year was adequate, I once thought that I didn't need a pistol..I THOUGHT I KNEW ABOUT GUNS...ect.....wrong!it was only after I became a CCW carrier that I realized my ignorance. I currently shoot anywhere from 500 to a 1,000 rounds a week which I make on an American Made "Dillion Precision" XL 650 press. So if anyone has any extra "Brass" laying around I will be more than glad to take it off your hands. JRH