"This feeling of helplessness, I think , is the primary reason many states (including Texas -- thank you, George W.) have passed concealed carry legislation. I would venture to guess that the state of Maryland (and the D.C. area) does not have an *adequate* concealed carry law which would enable it's residents to properly defend themselves."

I can't believe that post got 8 recs. Why are there so many gun-loving Republicans on TMF??

1) you *can* get a concealed weapon permit in Virginia, and if the NRA thought it wasn't "adequate", it would be rewritten in a heartbeat by the VA legislature; 2) it hasn't saved any of the people who've been shot by the sniper in VA.

"A good deterrent in this situation would be the thought that a legally-armed citizen might possibly be lurking around the corner, ready to take the sniper's head off with a well-placed Winchester Silver Tip from a Colt King Cobra."

Yeah, that's really scaring the pants off the sniper right now. We know that because he's steering clear of Virginia, right? "Oooooh, Virginia -- I might get my head blown off by an armed citizen!" Right.

No one has even seen his face, let alone had a chance to blast him.

This is a great chance for the NRA to show that arming citizens is a good idea. So we're all waiting for one of those big, bad gun-totin' NRA cowboys to show up, pull out a Magnum and blow the sniper away.

Well? We're waiting.