Yes, I am mostly Democratic. Yes, I own a gun and have an FOID card. I have no felony conviction and no mental problems. Before you who know me start snickering, all I got to say is “phew.”

Now to get to the reason for writing. I do not believe in concealed carry, and I’ll tell you why. If everyone who is allowed to carry a gun is surprised by someone who is intent on doing something, he isn’t going to know it in time to protect himself. Then that person will have his gun to use or sell it to someone else who shouldn’t have one.

Second, this makes me think of the old Wild West days, where everyone packed a gun. If they didn’t like the way a guy was dealing the cards in a poker game, then what happened? Yeah, you guessed it. Boom.