Is It Time For Concealed Carry?
Recently Washington, D.C., is in the middle of an unprecedented reduction in their police force. Interestingly, it comes during an uproar about how concealed carry permits are being processed in our nation’s capitol. According to the Washington Post, the recent reductions have reduced the force to the lowest level in a decade, leaving the citizens without a sufficient level of police protection.
This is the reason why we ask the big question, isn’t it the time for us to have a clear-cut process for concealed carry in the nation’s capitol?
One of the few special cases in our nation is the District of Columbia, where concealed carry has been hotly contested. For most law-abiding citizens, it is not feasible to pursue a concealed carry permit based on some landmark court cases. There are a small number of places that do not acknowledge the permitting process of other surrounding states like Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. There’s almost no reciprocity with these states.
In a sticky predicament in Virginia and Maryland, when going back and forth from work, school or even to the airport, this surely leaves commuters at risk.
The Washington Post stated that the homicides within the capitol have increased over 50% in past years, which only shows the lack of the presence of the police and the people’s inability to protect themselves on the street. Gang-related criminal activity is also a hot spot, as DC is one of the least savory places in the country to live.
Many people who work in and around D.C. tend to live in either Maryland or Virginia, because of this. The houses are expensive, crime is through the roof and most of all, there’s no good, legal way to protect yourself once you are inside the capitol. Just like we said before, for those who will enter and exit the metropolitan area in D.C., concealed carry permits are not reciprocated within the city. It’s an opening for potential gun related charges on law-abiding citizens.
And if you take a look at it, these matters makes the District of Columbia’s police force much woset. One-third of all levels of command staff will soon be eligible for retirement, as stated in a budget memo submitted by the D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier. TWith all the violent, gang-related crimes occurring in our nation’s capitol, that’s surely going to leave a real leadership vacuum.
The D.C. Police chief is divorced from the reality that their plan has a relationship to the situation on the ground.
Gregg Pemberton said, “The only way to stop the hemorrhaging of personnel in this department is to fundamentally change the way it is managed.” The treasurer of the police union wrote this in a letter to residents posted on the internet, “police officers are leaving because of the erratic scheduling, a salary that is not competitive and of course the ineffectual deployment strategies.”
The police force of D.C. certainly have their own issues to deal with, and it will continue in the coming years. This is the reason why the District of Columbia should have a clear process for “shall permit,” that will allow the law-abiding citizens to protect themselves. Considering reciprocity with both Maryland and Virginia is necessary, since this is an area that is driven through and into by all of those residents.
If you don’t have the ability to rule and manage your police force, as well as preventing people from protect themselves, what is left in our society ?
