Weapons Law Works

the Kentucky Post | 10/13/2001 | Courtney Kinney

[the irate magistrate]

Weapons law works

By Courtney Kinney, Post Frankfort Bureau Chief

FRANKFORT - Joe Megerle was suspicious when a stranger approached him just after sunrise in Devou Park and asked him for the time.

His suspicion turned to fear when, moments later, the man made a U-turn, stopped his car in the middle of the road and walked toward him.

Megerle, a retired Cinergy worker with bad knees and a bad back, reached into his pocket and cocked the hammer on the .25-caliber pistol he carried on his morning walks.

When the stranger pulled a gun from his waist band and rushed Megerle, Megerle shot first. The stranger fell at his feet. Megerle was uninjured.

''I've thought about how I could've gotten out of it, and there was no way,'' Megerle said this week in his first media interview since the shooting Aug. 19, 1999. ''It was like having your back against the wall and a big Mack truck was bearing down on you.

''Where could I have gone?''

Megerle, now 59, credits his life to a 1996 law that made it legal for qualified people to carry a concealed weapon. The law took effect five years ago this month.

When the law was being debated in the legislature, some citizens and officials predicted a blood bath. Street corners and Little League games would dissolve into Wild West-like scenarios, they said, with people settling disagreements over gunfire.

Five years and more than 62,000 permits later, that hasn't proven true.

''I think it's worked out exactly as I predicted it would,'' said state Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, who sponsored the 1996 legislation.

''I don't think anyone can find fault with it.''

Police and other officials interviewed could not recall an incident in the last five years in which a gun carried under the law was used illegally.

But anecdotal evidence exists of people defending themselves with permitted guns: An elderly woman in Bowling Green shot a group of teen-age intruders who broke into her home; a man in Louisville used his concealed weapon to thwart a group of gun-brandishing bank robbers.

''We haven't seen large increases in violent crimes involving handguns as a result of people having carry-concealed permits,'' said Lt. Lisa Rudzinski, KSP spokeswoman. ''People who commit vio lent crimes - some of them may have had concealed-carry permits. But the majority of them do not.''

That's because the people who have the permits are law-abiding citizens, say proponents of the law. To obtain a permit, an applicant must clear a thorough background check and complete an eight-hour classroom and target-training course.

That rigorous training and strict background check have been key to the law's success, said Florence Police Chief Tom Kathman.

''They've done a very good job of requiring the training and trying to evaluate those people who are applying,'' he said. ''I think that has been the major focus of whether the program has been successful or not.''

Kathman said the law has created no problem for him. He was neutral on the idea in 1996, he said.

But other police organizations weren't.

The Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police opposed the bill, saying that more guns would mean more incidences of gun-related injuries. Craig Birdwhistell, executive director of the association, said so far that hasn't happened.

''No, we haven't experienced the problems that some of our chiefs of police have anticipated,'' he said.

Birdwhistell said despite the statistics, the Kentucky police chief's association is still against an armed populous.

''I don't think our membership have changed their minds,'' said Birdwhistell, a former Georgetown police chief. ''They don't think that putting more weapons out on the street is the way to solve crime.''

Megerle, though, said it's the only thing that saved him from being a victim of crime. Megerle has often wondered how he could have avoided shooting James Kennedy, but he's never second-guessed his decision to do so.

Kennedy, who was hit in the head and chest, recovered. He pleaded guilty this summer to charges of robbery and being a persistent felony offender and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He'd previously served time for burglary, receiving stolen property and disorderly conduct.

Megerle counts his blessings. ''If it wasn't for that firearm, I could have very well been hurt,'' he said.

Publication date: 10-13-01

[the irate magistrate]

Police chiefs are political hirelings of liberal city councils and mayors.

They keep repeating the same pablam.

Kentucky's sheriffs and street patrolmen are a different matter.

[the irate magistrate]

The last I heard, Joe stopped carrying a mouse gun.

[the irate magistrate]

for your purusal

[Common Tator]

''They don't think that putting more weapons out on the street is the way to solve crime.''

NOTICE THIS SENTENCE. He is not thinking about preventing crime. He is thinking about

SOLVING

crimes.

Before you can solve a crime it must be committed. And if is is commiteed on you, you are the victim.

He is saying that you haveing a gun, does not help him catch your killler.

But if you have a gun you will not be killed.

The cops are concerned about catching killers... not keeping you alive.

[Dan from Michigan]

Thanks. I'll be posting this to MCRGO.

[the irate magistrate]

Usually this newspaper is anti-gun in it's content.

They can't deny this occurance with my friend Joe, however.

Carrying concealed did save his life that day.

[LibKill]

The last I heard, Joe stopped carrying a mouse gun.

Mouse gun beats no gun at all. But Joe was lucky. .25 cal rarely stops a perp in his tracks.

My most carried gun is a Colt .380. I consider it to be a rat gun. If I was built a little larger I would carry a small .45 cal.

[the irate magistrate]

Good idea Dan.

[the irate magistrate]

That Colt will do the job most times.

Do what you're comfortable with.

I'm carrying a small Kel Tec P-11 9mm.

[MissAmericanPie]

Cops are not even required to put themselves in danger trying to save your life. We are on our own out here folks, by the time you reach for your cell phone most crimes against you have been committed. Should you get off a call to police ten minutes is the arrival time, and if the police consider the situation hot, they will not come in to see how you are doing fighting off your attacker. I'll take my chances protecting myself if no one likes that idea they can go spit.

[the irate magistrate]

You are so correct!

[caseyblane]

I'm so suprised!! Yeah right. It is wonderful to see a newspaper article like this.

[farmer18th]

You mean people other than those trusted to guard Rosie O'Donnel's children are allowed to carry guns? This is scandalous.

[Squantos]

I used to carry just a reload, now I carry three guns, 1911 strong side IWB, Seecamp .32 weak hand pants pocket and a custom bobbed hammer S&W model 37 in an ankle rig .

Dumb ?, Smart ?, Too much ?, I dunno.....but just as this story goes the .25 worked for this guy and I just like to know I have access with right or left hand, standing, sitting or on my back fighting.........I don't pretend that all encounters will be from a modified weaver stance. Good read, thanks for the bump !

Stay Safe TIM !

[Skibane]

People who commit violent crimes - some of them may have had concealed-carry permits...

The press just can't resist slipping in at least one backhanded slap at concealed carry laws. In this example, the writer implies that some CCW holder somewhere may have committed a violent crime. The writer doesn't have any facts to support this premise (which would certainly have been included if any such facts existed), so the issue is instead left in the theoretical realm.

Following the same line of reasoning, pigs may fly, or there may be life on Pluto.

[xm177e2]

Birdwhistell said despite the statistics, the Kentucky police chief's association is still against an armed populous.

''I don't think our membership have changed their minds,'' said Birdwhistell, a former Georgetown police chief. ''They don't think that putting more weapons out on the street is the way to solve crime.''

"No amount of FACTS will convince ME, I'm... LIBERAL MAN the steadfast bastion of Left-Wingedness! Some Superheroes wear capes, others tights, but you'll know LIBERALMAN when you see him because of the big L on my forehead. Of course, sometimes I wear tights, too, but not as part of my superhero gig..."

[Don Myers]

"The last I heard, Joe stopped carrying a mouse gun."

My mouse gun is a Baretta Tomcat, 32 ACP, filled with silvertips. It is a nice pocket gun. Many people would call it a mouse gun.

[RaceBannon]

Good thing he had the guts to pull it out!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Time for America to do away with ALL laws that violate the 2nd amendment.

Text of the Second Amendment
"A well regulated Militia
being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."
Anyone who actually reads AND understands the 2nd Amendment
will see that there is no constitutional authority for any type of gun registration
and *there is no need for anyone to have to apply for a license to carry a gun.
*NOTE Vermont is the only state that understands this!
Any political party, politician, judge (etc), organization or individual who trys to convince you that:
1) you must register a firearm
2) you must pass a background check
3) you must wait (x) amount of days before you can get your firearm
4) you need to have a license to carry a gun
is either uneducated about OUR rights as citizens
OR is actively working to undermine OUR country.

How Did the Founders Understand the Second Amendment?

How the Brady Bill Passed (and subsequently - "Instant Check")
When the Brady Bill was passed into law on November 24, 1993,
the Senate voted on the Conference Report
and passed the Brady Bill by UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

NOT ONE SENATOR FROM EITHER PARTY VOTED AGAINST THIS
AND THE NRA HELPED DRAFT THE BRADY BILL.