Suder: Concealed Carry Permit Seekers Can Be Trusted
Thursday, November 10th, 2011 -- 2:45 PM
An area state representative thinks the public can be trusted to make sure they get enough training to safely carry loaded firearms.Rep. Scott Suder issued a press release Thursday refuting some news outlet?s assertion that the legislature?s action to drop a four-hour training requirement meant no training was needed.
Sean Lansing, a spokesperson for Suder, said four hours was an ?arbitrary number? set by the Attorney General in direct conflict with the intent of the legislature. Van Hollen argued some specific training requirements were necessary or the requirement would be completely subjective and virtually unenforceable.
Lansing says Suder has faith the people applying for permits will be responsible
"Anyone that wants to get a permit and goes through the trouble of doing so won't do it unless they are comfortable carrying and concealing a weapon," Lansing argues. "People who go through this process will do it the right way."
Some have compared the permit to a driver?s license. A driver must get trained and then pass a test before getting their license. Concealed carry permit applicants won?t have to prove they know how to handle a weapon or know when they can legally use it.
Lansing says some people might need thirty minutes, or less, of training.
"If that person's a master marksman, absolutely 30 minutes is enough," says Lansing.
Critics say the problem is the law draws no distinction between a master marksman and someone who just thinks of themselves as a master marksman. "Again, I'm not going to say what is enough or isn't enough for anybody. That's going to be up to the individual. That's how the bill was written. That's how it is done," Lansing says.
Under the bill, a certified instructor must vouch for the applicant?s training.
While state legislators couldn't get enough votes to pass it, Lansing said Rep. Suder supports so-called ?Constitutional Carry,? which would allow law-abiding citizens to carry weapons without an applicable state permit or license.
Lansing says Suder would like to see Constitutional Carry "implemented down the road."
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