LETTERS: BAD GUYS WOULD APPLY FOR PERMITS

To the editor:

In regard to the legislation on being able to carry a concealed weapon, I fel that is improtant for all the citizens of Missouri to really look at Proposition B and not listen to individuals like the assistant U.S. attorney, the Cape Girardeau County prosecutor and especially the chief of police of Cape Girardeau. These men stood up in front of a news conference holding up what looked to me like a Teck 9 handgun and state that if Proposition B were to become a reality, then all the gang bangers would be walking into the banks and businesses carrying these types of guns. How dumb do these educated people think the people of the Heartland really are? In reality, the U.S. attorney and the prosecutor come into a case after the fact, and the chief is an administrator and in this case has not really been a street cop except for his Army career. That doesn't ell us what, if any, investigation he ever did that qualifies him to make such an unprofessional statement.

We all know that the bad guyhs will not be going to the local sheriff's office to apply. And if they do, the sheriff will not be able to issue them a conceal-carry permit by law. They are carrying weapons without the permits. I was in law enforcement for over 30 years in a state where there were permits issued to carry concealed weapons. Of these 30 years, 18 were in criminal investigations with four working undercover. In those years, I never arrested a person for a felony that was commited with a firearm that he or she was carrying at the time of the crime and had a permit for it.

The only thing I can find fault with Proposition B is that I, along with other police officers I have talked to, think the training should have been a little bit longer than 12 hours.

I paid my dues. I think we shoulde all take a look at Proplosition B and then make a sound judgment, to just take what some officials are saying to scare us into a no vote. I am asking, for the safety of myself and my family along with all other law-abiding citizens of this fine state, that you would vote yes on Proposition B. I have always said I would rather be judged by 12 of my peers than be carred by six of my best friends.

ANDREW J. WIESNER

Marble Hill.