D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
March 2010
Is That a Gun in Your Pocket or...?
Keep yer gun where I kin see it, pardner.
Ever wonder what men are talking about when they are leaning on the pickup in small groups, drinking beer? I'm not giving away any fraternity secrets by telling you that it's usually about politics, trucks, weather or dogs. However, each man at the tailgate has his own personal agenda to promote, with topics ranging from football to guns. Lately, there seems to be a lot of talk about New Mexico's concealed-carry law that allows citizens to tote a smoke wagon wherever they go, under their clothing. A lackadaisical gun owner like me has pondered the purpose of this law at length, and I've come to a couple of conclusions.
Guns are good for two things: putting holes in things and making people uncomfortable. That's probably because guns can put holes in people. In fact, handguns are pretty much designed exclusively for that purpose, which is why they're so popular with concealed-carry licensees. I myself have a 9mm handgun that I occasionally put in my truck when I explore the desert backcountry, and I will sometimes strap on the holster and wear it when hiking. I mainly justify this under the supposition that I may encounter something that needs a hole put in it.
But I have never taken advantage of my God-given and state-sanctioned right to carry my gun on my hip in public, in full view and perfect accordance with New Mexico's open-carry laws. It tends to make people twitchy and garners the hairy eyeball from bystanders as they gently push their children behind them. To its credit, a concealed-carry permit would prevent this kind of social awkwardness, I would think.
Since New Mexico passed conceal-carry legislation in 2003, more than 7,000 people have received their permits; 455 of them in Doa Ana County and 231 in Grant County. I personally have a couple of associates who have been granted a concealed-carry permit and now pack iron under their jackets. Each of them justifies his clandestine hog-leg by claiming the ability to defend himself against — what? Hopped-up meth-heads at the Quik Sak? Machete-wielding illegal immigrants? Nazis? A citizen defending society is all well and good, but how is it accomplished any better with a concealed weapon than it is with one strapped on the hip for all to see?
Proponents argue that when you hide the weapons, would-be criminals never know who might be capable of shooting back, and thus it can deter their evil plans. The only advantage I can see is that polite society might act normally around the gunslinger who hides his heater, instead of trying to figure out if the gunman is an actual hopped-up meth-head, ready to spray down a public mob with his own special brand of crazy-lead.
I've also heard the argument that this is a constitutional issue, but does the right to keep and bear arms really include hiding them? Did our Founding Fathers envision a time when we would need a well-regulated militia to ensure the security of the state by concealing weapons? If that's an effective tactic, maybe our troops should try that in Afghanistan, too.
I admit I'm not a very interesting or dedicated gun owner. I like going out with my friends who are, because they let me fire their very expensive, impressive automatic weapons and exotic side arms. My personal armory consists of a couple of shotguns, a rifle and my handgun, but I'd be hard-pressed to talk very knowledgeably about any of them. I try to go target shooting a couple times a year, take the guns home, clean them and store them until next time. I keep guns for recreation, not because I can imagine a time when I will have to defend myself from zombies or Redcoats. I like putting holes in things like beer cans, pumpkins and discarded Christmas decorations (don't ask).
Before the National Rifle Association fires up its substantial public relations machine and inundates this paper with "fan" mail, let me be clear: I have no problem with guns or the Second Amendment. All one has to do is look at the anarchy and crime going on in Mexico to see what a terrible idea it is to outlaw guns for law-abiding citizens.
Maybe I'm just a cynical, dried-up ol' cowlick, but I still haven't had my ear filled up with a good reason to carry concealed yet, and I think it only gives the anti-gun coalition more ammunition (if you'll pardon the pun). Statistically speaking, it's likely only a matter of time until one of these lone gunmen (or gunwomen) makes a hole in something in a very messy, public way, and the anti-gun lobby will have a big, fat stick to hit the gun lobby with.
It seems to me that all the knock-kneed reasons for having a concealed-carry weapon are already met by the existing open-carry law. But to listen to some advocates, this is the greatest manifestation of our constitutional rights since they began printing "One Nation Under God" on our money. I still don't have a staunch opinion on this one way or the other, but until the revolution begins and social anarchy becomes de rigueur, I think I'll take the advice of Johnny Cash and not take my guns to town.
Henry Lightcap packs heat in Las Cruces.