The West Virginia Senate passed a bill that would let people carry concealed without a permit if they meet certain requirements. Although there are restrictions regarding the bill, this in no way would determine the safety of anyone. Roadblocks are being added to prevent citizens with substance abuse issues, mental health problems or those who have previously been charged of domestic or other violent crimes from obtaining guns, but again, this will not determine the safety of any citizen.

There was bipartisan support in the Senate, but it is evident that some Senators did not think the issue all the way through. It has been said the “only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” which in itself, is dangerous thinking. There is nothing that gives any sort of depth to these claims.

If anything, the presence of two people with guns, regardless of moral standing, could potentially cause more violence. If one person pulls a gun on another and multiple citizens with guns are also around, what’s to prevent these men or women from shooting each other, or even innocent bystanders?

West Virginia Senators need to take a seat and think about the safety of the public. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin vetoed a similar bill in the past after listening to the safety concerns of law enforcement officials from the state.

Even our law enforcement officials do not think this is a good idea.

When the men and women who put their lives on the line are refuting the bill, it is time to listen. The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence gives West Virginia a rank of D- and the rank of 13 when it comes to gun deaths. The website even mentions how it was brave of Tomblin to veto said bill previously.

Violence is an endless cycle. Once violent actions happen, more people respond with more violence, potentially worse than previous acts of violence. This cycle is endless. It started with the first act of human on human aggression and shows no signs of slowing down.

Without sensible gun legislation, people will continue to die and West Virginia citizens will continue to lose their family members to a cycle that really has no place in modern society.