Letter: Gun-free zones only invite guns

The concept of a gun-free zone is actually good, but the ability to keep a zone gun-free is lacking. Zones that restrict any kind of firearm — armed, unloaded, disassembled or not — are put forth in an attempt to protect the innocent lives in that particular area.

But in spite of the attempts to make, say the Columbia Basin College campus, safer by adding a gun-free zone law, it only leads to making potential unfortunate situations worse. Anyone that is planning a shooting obviously has some kind of disturbed mental state. The same kind of disturbed mental state that would be picked up by the mandatory screening done before being allowed to own a concealed pistol license.

If a gunman has already brought a weapon without owning a concealed weapons permit to the campus, they have already broken the law and nothing deters them from further breaking the gun-free zone laws.

The only conceivable manner in which to ensure the safety of any unarmed citizen from another who is armed and disturbed, would be to give them a gun in which to defend themselves.

This story was originally published March 8, 2016 at 5:19 PM with the headline "Letter: Gun-free zones only invite guns."