Pistol-packing politicians like added firepower

The Associated Press ^ | 08-04-2003

[Wasichu]

One in six Indiana lawmakers has a permit to carry a firearm, and some even pack their guns when they saunter onto the floor of the Indiana House and Senate, The Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne reported Sunday.

These pistol-packing politicians have no problem with the availability of weapons in the Statehouse, and some even welcome the guns given the lax security at the state Capitol.

"If someone opens fire from the balcony, I want all the guns I can shooting back. Unless, of course, there are school kids up there," said Rep. Matthew Whetstone, whose small .22-caliber pistol weighs no more than a set of keys in his pants pocket.

Whetstone, R-Brownsburg, is one of 25 House and Senate members with valid permits to carry firearms, according to a review of the Indiana State Police firearms database by the newspaper.

That is about 17 percent of the General Assembly, compared with about 7 percent of the eligible state population with permits.

Few lawmakers seem concerned that the firearms could be turned on each other despite history that shows political rivals around the nation - most recently in the New York City Hall shooting - have resorted to violence.

Six lawmakers acknowledged bringing their guns onto the House or Senate floor all the time or at least occasionally.

Thirteen others said they did not, and several more did not return repeated phone calls or declined to discuss the specifics of when they carry a gun.

Of the 25 with permits, 10 are in the Senate and 15 are in the House.

Eight of the gun-toting lawmakers are Democrats; 17 are Republicans. Of the six Republicans who say they bring guns to work at the Statehouse, three are in the Senate and three are in the House.

But not everyone appreciates the extra firepower on the floor.

"I think the state troopers are paid to protect us, and I think we can depend on them," said Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary.

Although it is probably surprising to many Hoosiers, there is no law against having a gun in the Statehouse, said Lt. Scott Beamon of the Indiana State Police.

There is a personnel policy prohibiting most state employees from carrying any type of weapon, but it does not apply to elected legislators.

"As a former police officer, I have the training and the capability to stop something if something happens," said Sen. John Waterman, R-Shelburn. "If I'm not armed, I can't do that."

Waterman, who served two terms as sheriff of Sullivan County, is the only law enforcement member turned lawmaker who carries a firearm.

Several other former police officers - including Rep. Bob Alderman, R-Fort Wayne - choose not to be armed on the floor.

"I do have a permit, but I don't carry there. Never. I think that's why the state police are there," he said.

Although several Capitol police officers monitor the Statehouse at all times, the building covers two city blocks and they cannot effectively cover all possibilities, said Andrew Stoner, spokesman for Gov. Frank O'Bannon.

There are no metal detectors at any of the near-dozen entrances to the Statehouse.

Both the House and Senate are on the third floor, and while elderly men and women check IDs at the chamber doors, there are no guards. Also on the House side, there is a third unmanned and unlocked door through which anyone could enter directly onto the floor. A plainclothes state trooper usually is present.

During session, there is one metal detector on the fourth floor leading to the House gallery that was purchased after Sept. 11, 2001.

The House also has installed bulletproof glass in its chamber, but there are no metal detectors on the Senate side.

"You or I could walk in there with a handgun and I really think that anything could happen," said Sen. Kent Adams, R-Warsaw.

[Wasichu]

The manner in which the tail end of this article is written, it would seem the writers are inviting trouble!

[Puppage]

"I think the state troopers are paid to protect us, and I think we can depend on them," said Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary

Dear Vernon......perhaps you'd care to remove the fire extinquishers, too? After all....won't the Fire Dept. protect you? You can depend on THEM.

[kAcknor]

Note please: The *bang_list is a collection of articles pertaining to the Second Amendment and related Civil Rights, Firearms, and Firearm Related Subjects in general. It is not a ping list. Please do not ask me to include you. There is no one to notify you of new posts. The *bang_list, like others, is a collection of like-subject articles placed by anyone who believes an article belongs and can be read anytime. You can read the list here. You can bookmark the list on your FR homepage here. You can add an article to the list by posting a reply and sending it to *bang_list as in this post.

[theDentist]

This is impossible. After all, if they have weapons on their person then it's entirely likely they'll start blazing away at the first sign of disagreement. Isn't that what the Brady bunch keep shilling out?

[45Auto]

"Get rid of that sissy-pistol and get yourself a 1911A1"

[lepton]

whose small .22-caliber pistol weighs no more than a set of keys in his pants pocket.

A .22? What does he expect to shoot? Birds? .22s have been known to be very annoying. Oh sure, they're fatal, to the head, or over a long term, but they tend not to stop people from shooting for a while.

[wabash]

Rep. Matthew Whetstone is a great Rep. I wish there were more like him (him and Jim Buck).

[HurkinMcGurkin]

A .22? What does he expect to shoot? Birds? .22s have been known to be very annoying. Oh sure, they're fatal, to the head, or over a long term, but they tend not to stop people from shooting for a while.

I dislike small caliber guns as self-defense myself, but imagine the response of an attacker who has his hands around your throat when you put two rounds of .22 mag in his groin.

[Wasichu]

ping

[Redbob]

""I do have a permit, but I don't carry there. Never. I think that's why the state police are there," he said."

That's no doubt what they thought in New Yrok City, too.
Why, they even had metal detectors there.

[Redbob]

Ummm, but that's not a 1911A1 you've got pictured there.
For one thing, it's a lot better made.

[Darksheare]

"I think the state troopers are paid to protect us, and I think we can depend on them," said Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary.

The last time I had to personally depened on teh state police to do what this bimbo says they're paid to do, I ended up havign a sword confiscated due to having to use it on a drunken drugged up moron at three in the morning.

[SJSAMPLE]

.22s. .32s and .380s are guns you carry when you can't carry a gun. Personally, I carry a Kel-Tec P32 (.32 ACP) when I have to dress light or formal. My Glock or my SIG P229 is just too big for many occasions. ANY gun is better than NO gun.

[lepton]

I ended up havign a sword confiscated due to having to use it on a drunken drugged up moron at three in the morning.

C'mon. Do people really NEED swords? :)

Given that you had access to a sword, I owuld guess he came to visit you at home?

[lepton]

.22s. .32s and .380s are guns you carry when you can't carry a gun. Personally, I carry a Kel-Tec P32 (.32 ACP) when I have to dress light or formal. My Glock or my SIG P229 is just too big for many occasions. ANY gun is better than NO gun.

I suppose. I'd think that one could find a relatively flat .38, or at least, as you note, a .32.

[King Prout]

ping

[King Prout]

mmmm...
you may have a point, there.

[Darksheare]

Yes.
And it was quite clean, actually.
Of course, his hand, his thigh, and his kneecap won't ever be the same.
The police took an hour and forty five minutes to even make an appearance.
By then, the deed was done and the perp had run back to get his buddies. (Amazing what one can accomplish on adrenaline when your kneecap is in two pieces.)
So the cops show, see nothing going on and split.
No sooner are they out of sight than the perp shows with his buddies.
The cops waited about fifteen more minutes to show up again.
By then, the injured numbered three on my side, and two on theirs. But they got busted for showing up and assaulting my 50 year old father. (They skated on it, unfortunately. But they now know better than to come near here. They fear that I really do have a war axe and might actually use it.)

Do people need swords?
Well, considering the fact that if I had used my gun would have made me the bad guy in the eyes of the law - yes.
The cops were rather amused about the whole deal.

[The KG9 Kid]

The thing about Kimber pistols that keeps me from buying one is not only the annoying name of their company, but the fact that they let the high school cheerleader that owns the company to scribe her name in 'cutesy' style on the slide.

Other than that, they're excellent pistols.

... For a girl, that is.

[Shooter 2.5]

What's wrong with the name "Kimber"?