The Gadfly is a series of letters offering commentary on local issues and published in the Warrensburg Gazette.

Most sheriffs around the state have finally started issuing concealed carry permits. It’s about time. They have been hamstrung for the better part of a year by lawsuits filed by the hysterical Left. Apparently, these people are afraid that the mere possession of a concealed weapon will throw an ordinarily law-abiding citizen into a homicidal rage whenever the slightest irritation occurs. That’s hogwash, of course; nothing of the sort has happened in the other 44 states that allow concealed carry.

There are some good guys and some villains in the story. Among the good guys are our three area State Representatives (David Pearce, Shannon Cooper & D.J. Davis) and especially our State Senator (Harold Caskey) since he bucked the will of his own party to be a leader in a very close veto override vote. Attorney General Jay Nixon also comes down on the good guy side for doing an effective job defending the law despite his announced personal opposition to it.

The villains include much of the print media in the state for fanning hysteria, the governor’s office for delaying things with his veto, and the official Democratic leadership of the House & Senate. An addition to the villain list is State Senator Peter Kinder, the Senate Republican leader, who will not advance a bill to correct the technical Hancock Amendment related problems. He’s running for Lt. Governor this fall and needs to hear from a lot of irritated members of his own party.

What I don’t understand is why businesses and other places that serve the public want to exercise their right to ban concealed carry in their premises. Have they fallen for the newspaper propaganda that proclaims licensed carriers a public danger? Is that why signs that implicitly equate licensed carriers with criminals, such as the one on the door of Trails Library, show up? Do they believe that a sign will deter a potential armed robber? These signs are more likely to encourage the criminal looking for an easy target and to induce law-abiding license holders to take their business elsewhere.

While I wholeheartedly support the right of the citizen to defend his home, person and business, the process of getting a license is not inexpensive. I’m not going to tell you if I intend to apply; thanks to the provision that keeps the records secret you’ll never know!