Why terror alert level isn't green

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/quicktakes/576276,CST-NWS-qt27.article

September 27, 2007
BY ZAY N. SMITH Sun-Times Columnist

With the Help of Utah and the National Rifle Association, We Will Win the War on Terrorism (cont'd):

Utah has issued 1,000 concealed-weapon permits to foreigners without background checks.

[bluerum]

1. Background checks?! We don't need no stinkin background checks.

on edit: :sarcasm:

[benEzra]

2. Gotta be 'spicious of them furriners...

And we all know that if a terr'ist wanted to commit an act of terrorism with a gun, they would most certainly apply for a carry license first so they would be in compliance with the law. I suspect that the reporter's beef here was with the concept of civilian carry licenses itself, rather than a bona fide worry that terrorists would subject themselves to the licensing process.

Vermont doesn't require carry licenses in order to carry a gun, concealed or not, for any lawful purpose. Next week--the dire terr'ist threat to the maple syrup industry. After all, whenever someone uses the word terr'ist in an article, we're supposed to get scared and hand more discretionary powers to Someone In Authority...

FWIW, to get a carry license here in NC, I had to pass a Federal and state background check, a mental health records check, an FBI fingerprint check, take a class on self-defense law, pass a written test on same administered by the sheriff's department, and demonstrate competence with a handgun on a shooting range, live fire. No, I'm not a terr'ist...