Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence released another First Monday report yesterday, this time with some news (albeit not very surprising) about concealed weapons. The majority of Americans, they say, don't want 'em.

A variety of state and national public opinion surveys have shown that most Americans are opposed to citizens carrying concealed weapons in public places.

* A national survey conducted by the Harvard Injury Control Research Center (2001) asked, “Do you think regular citizens should be allowed to bring their guns into (a) restaurants, (b) bars, (c) college campuses, (d) hospitals, (e) sports stadiums, and (f) government buildings?” The overwhelming majority of Americans – generally more than 90 percent of respondents – said “no” to each location.

* A USA Today/CNN/Gallop poll (2005) found that approximately two-thirds of all Americans would feel less safe in a public place that allowed concealed weapons.

Now, if you've been an intrepid reader of this here site, you'll know there's nothing new here. We've said all along that most Americans aren't interested in carrying concealed weapons. And yet, concealed weapons are completely legal in almost all 50 states. Why is that? Because the gun lobby is very, very good at organizing a small, vocal minority into a threat to lawmakers.

State laws that allow citizens to carry concealed weapons in public places give special consideration to a very small minority of the population – the population of conceal carry permit holders. For example, in Iowa about 35 percent of adults own one or more firearms – 59 percent of men and 12 percent of women. But only approximately 1.3 percent of Iowa’s adult population age 21 and older (about 3.6 percent of gun owners) possesses an Iowa permit to carry.

The percentage of conceal carry permit holders in some states may be higher than Iowa and in other states lower. The percentage of conceal carry permit holders for the total U.S. population is not known, but it is pretty safe to say that it is in single digits – probably less than 3 percent.

And what's fascinating about this is that even the gun lobby agrees that concealed weapons aren't safe. Every time a concealed carry law passes (as one recently did in Kansas, even though the public and the police were against it), there's always clauses in there that make sure to keep concealed weapons away from schools, churches, bars, sports stadiums, and government buildings. Why? Because concealed weapons are too dangerous to take to those places.

But what the gun lobby doesn't get, and what most Americans know, is that concealed weapons are dangerous anywhere. There's no reason to single out schools and churches-- if concealed weapons don't belong there, they don't belong anywhere on the streets.

Allowing nonresidents to carry concealed weapons in Iowa provides no benefit to Iowans. Furthermore, studies show that whenever more guns are introduced into an environment (e.g., the home or the workplace), the result is more gun deaths and injuries; not fewer.

The Iowa Legislature should not consider legislation that gives special consideration to a very small percentage of the population, but provides no benefit to the vast majority of Iowans, including gun owners.

Lawmakers should consider the wishes of the vast majority of Iowans and Americans that don’t carry concealed weapons, don’t want to carry concealed weapons, and don’t want to sit next to a person in a movie theater or sports stadium who is carrying a loaded handgun.

Of course, all of this doesn't keep the gun lobby from lying and bullying. In fact, in Delaware, thanks to the gun lobby's attacks, lawmakers are about to pass a concealed carry bill that the public and the police don't agree with at all.

With a Smith and Wesson held to his head during a random robbery Rick Shindledecker had a clear thought. “I did not wish I had a gun, I just wished he didn’t,” said Shindeldecker, proprietor of Sharkey’s Grill in Dewey Beach, who was held at gunpoint for cash a decade ago. Better known as “Sharky,” he joins legions of people opposing a current bill to loosen restrictions on carrying concealed deadly weapons.

Despite passionate debate from the opposition heard in House committee March 2, the bill has overwhelming support in both chambers and appears likely to pass.

The House Public Safety Committee heard testimony and released the bill on its merits, voting 4-2, with one abstaining.

Looking like a sure shot from most angles, there could be some backfire on the bill, however, as Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, proposed an amendment Thursday, March 23, to require those carrying concealed weapons to have their permit on their person at all times, similar to a driver’s license.

“My heart is still with law enforcement and the citizens. I am voting against this,” said Schwartzkopf, a former Delaware State Police commander.

Police officers flocked to Legislative Hall for the hearing. Donning their uniforms and surrendering their own guns at the doors, hundreds of municipal and state officers protested the bill Wednesday, March 22.

Sorry? Is this America? We sure thought that, in this country, legislators worked for the people, not for a lobby. But in Delaware, even though it's clear that no one but lawmakers and the gun lobby are interested in passing this bill, that's exactly what's happening.

The gun lobby has subverted our law books for too long. The NRA has convinced America that concealed weapons are necessary and effective, when they are exactly the opposite: unneeded and dangerous. In Iowa or Delaware, Texas or Wisconsin, it's time to end the gun lobby's tyranny over the law-- it's time to get rid of dangerous legislation that the majority of Americans don't want.