While I feel that concealed or open carry by law abiding citizens is a right guaranteed to the citizens of the United States, I believe it is a natural right that isn’t subject to political leanings.
I do support the prohibition of firearms in homes and businesses of those who own those homes and businesses if they choose to prohibit firearms, just as I support the right of people to avoid places where firearms are prohibited. I also support serious consequences for those who use firearms during the commission of a crime.
However, I don’t think we ought to be arguing about a natural right if someone wants to carry concealed or openly as they go about their daily routine.
My concern is for the safety of society, which is the reason our Founding Fathers decided to not prohibit the ownership and public possession of arms. They felt that the right to keep and bear arms was a natural right with a commensurate responsibility, and not subject to political discussion.
However, our Founding Fathers also believed in firearms training and marksmanship training from an early age for the purposes of self-defense and defense of their communities and nation.
For those same reasons, I also support making quality firearms training available for those who choose to carry a firearm concealed or openly in public.
In short, I believe the right to keep and bear arms is a natural right with a commensurate responsibility demanded of those who choose to exercise the right.
Although Idaho has passed permitless carry, it seems a great number of people are still applying for the standard or enhanced permit in order to carry in states other than Idaho. But what about those who simply choose to exercise their right to carry concealed or openly without any training or permit? One can do that at their own risk, but serious consequences can ruin one’s life if mistakes are made.
Are you considering carrying a weapon in public, or do you already carry a weapon for personal protection? Do you have the proper training, or do you think training is unnecessary?
Do you know the “Five Threat Levels,” and at what point deadly force is justified? Do you know the “Four Rules of Firearm Safety” everyone who carries in public should know? Do you know what the “Fatal Funnel” is and how to avoid it?
Think about it. Do you really understand “Reasonable Fear,” and the parameters under which you are justified in using whatever force is available to you to defend against a determined attack by another?
There is a great deal of confusion among the general public concerning what justifies the use of lethal force against another. The confusion comes from both a vague understanding of criminal law and a conflict between personal morals and public ethics.
Personal morals are the personal rules of conduct we hold ourselves responsible for adhering to. Personal morals may be based on the morals our parents taught us or religious principles we believe in.
Public ethics are what our public laws are based on, and what our actions will be judged by if we find ourselves in court.
Personal morals and public ethics may be very similar in some cases but vary widely in many circumstances.
In order to get this point across to my students, who were training to carry a concealed weapon in Texas, I explained this principle in a way they could more easily understand.
Let’s have you and I make a $1,000 bet. If you lose the bet, I get your $1,000. If you win the bet, you get to keep what you have and walk away with nothing extra.
Would you make that kind of bet?
That is exactly the bet you make any time you use force, including lethal force against another. If you are judged justified in your actions, you gain nothing extra but get to keep what you already have. If it is determined that the force you used did not meet the parameters of the public ethic, you can lose everything you have and possibly serve time in jail or prison.
When I moved back to Idaho, I stopped teaching defensive firearms and tactical courses to anyone except family members because I no longer was immune from prosecution if one of my students was involved in an incident and was judged unjustified in their actions.
Most of the gun shops and sporting goods stores in Pocatello can put you in touch with qualified instructors of the Idaho Concealed Carry Course. Contact one of them and get the training.
If President-elect Donald Trump makes good on his intention to have national concealed carry reciprocity, it will have to be approved by Congress and you will undoubtedly have to show a permit to prove you have gone through the training.
Training has always been the key to responsible firearm ownership and use. You can never have too much of it.
Smokey Merkley was raised in Idaho and has been hunting since he was 10 years old. He was a member of the faculty of Texas A&M University for 25 years. There he taught orienteering, marksmanship, self-defense, fencing, scuba diving and boxing. He was among the first DPS-certified Texas Concealed Handgun Instructors. He can be contacted at mokeydo41245@hotmail.com.
