Which Neighbors Have Concealed Weapons Permits? (Redwood City, Ca. publishes list)

[ToolMaker]

252. LOL...Actually, that's a very poor analogy...

Judging by this comment, I can only assume that you have spent either very little or no time in small aircraft, as you seem to have a distinct lack of knowledge about them.

The lack of use of parachutes in general aviation aircraft, and the vast majority of aircraft in general, has nothing to do with statistics, or ones views on them. Ever tried to open your car door wide enough to crawl out of it while traveling at highway speed? Pretty tough job. Now imagine doing that at speeds that can easily double and triple highway speeds. With very few exceptions, aircraft doors hinge at the front, just like car doors and would be impossible to open while in flight. Exceptions include planes designed for aerobatic use, which are required to have quick release hinges that allow the door to be jettisoned, to allow occupants to bail out should the need arise. Even in this case though, it is not an easy task. Trust me, I know from experience.

As to the public benefit of publishing the private information of concealed carry permit holders, it's a pretty long stretch to show that it would achieve the desired "public safety" goal. Think about this. Even if you lived in a small town of only 5,000 people, what are the odds that you would recognize any great percentage of them by sight and be able to associate a name to the face and then recall whether or not their name was on the published list? Even if you could memorize the list for such a small community, you sill have to be concerned about those from other cities that travel to you little town for a variety of reasons, as well as those from another state whose permits are recognized by the state in which you live. You are really no better off than by simply knowing that concealed carry permits are issued within your state. The published list does not really aid you in avoiding contact with those with a permit to any significant degree.

Now consider that permit holders are the cause of only a minuscule number of problems within society, as a whole. You are at far greater risk from those carrying a gun illegally than you are from those carrying one legally, but there is no list to help you identify those who are doing so illegally. The only possible advantage that you gain by having the list published is the off chance that someone you are able to recognize is on that list, and you happen to see them in a public place, and associate their name to that list. The only way to realistically insure, or even dramatically increase the chance, that you are never exposed to anyone carrying a concealed firearm is to stay home. Even if you live in an area that has no concealed carry permits available, you still cannot know that there are not people carrying anyway.

So how exactly does this perceived public benefit manifest itself? And, how does it outweigh the probable increased risk that those with a permit are subjected to?