According to the Modbee.com article, Turlock Police Chief Gary Hampton has a unique agreement with Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson that no other police chief has in Stanislaus County, Hampton issues concealed weapon permits to people who live in the city limits instead of applicants being approved by the Sheriff.
Turlock Police Chief Gary Hampton issued Turlock City Council Members Ted Howze and Kurt Spycher concealed weapons permits in 2008.
The Modbee.com article clarifies Hampton’s favored consideration of approval for people who hold political office and quotes Hampton’s reasoning of “realizing there is a great potential for an act of violence committed against people who hold office.”
This may be justified reasoning while also being considered a political favor to Council Members who ultimately approve many of Chief Hampton’s department requests and budget.
Before everyone can make their comments on political favors, Howze and Spycher clarify that being an elected official had nothing to do with their desire to carry a concealed weapon but rather it was in relation to them both doing work in rural areas at odd hours and running into “unsavory characters” while doing so.
So now does every farmer have a justifiable reason to carry a concealed weapon and should their concealed weapon permits be approved on that basis of potential threat?
It seems like bank tellers face more potential threats these days.
Turlock City Councilman Kurt Spycher has stated that he’s previously had a concealed weapon permit issued in Merced County for over 20 years.
Besides people’s views on political favors or the standard on which concealed weapon permits are issued, religion has been brought up since Councilman Spycher led the controversial fight to keep people’s rights to say public prayer at City Hall before the Council Meetings and to put “In God We Trust” on the Council Chamber wall.
“Religious” people often reference Bible scriptures of “turn the other cheek” instead of the philosophy of “tooth for a tooth” in regards to how to handle wrong doing. People with that believe in God and Heaven take comfort in Bible scripture that states “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Carrying a concealed weapon suggests that one has the intent to use it; of course this is would be contrary to Bible teachings.
The stereotypical political “conservatives” are usually the “Bible thumpers” while Ironically also being the most extreme advocates for carrying firearms.
On top of all these current local specific concerns, the ongoing national discussion of the Second Amendment right to bear arms continues… But do the weapons need to be concealed?
Please share your views on this issue and these points of discussion (or any other relative points).
