Great News: Gun Nuts Can Hide Weapons From Cops (VIDEO)

Police officers across the United States are under increasing stress. The number of civilians shot by police has gone up significantly in the past two decades. More than 100 officers have been killed in each of the past 20 years.

There is a sense of danger and animosity between many police officers and the people they serve, especially in African American communities.

So what is behind all of this violence?

Please pardon my sarcasm, but, gee, do you think it has anything to do with the 300 million guns in this country?

Every time a police officer wants to stop, question, or arrest someone, there is a threat that the person is armed. Even if the officer looks closely and sees empty hands, it doesn’t make them any safer.

That’s because all 50 U.S. States allow civilians to carry concealed weapons.

Yep.

In 42 states you need a permit, but in the other eight, you can just pop that Glock in your pocket and head off to the grocery store.

No wonder police officers are feeling stressed!

Now we find information shared on the website Concealed Nation, advising people about their legal obligations if they are pulled over. The fact that this country has a website called “Concealed Nation” is alarming enough, if you ask me, but wait until you hear this.

In 35 of the great states in the U.S. of A. you are allowed to legally ignore your concealed weapon if the cops stop you. As in, you do not have to tell the man in the uniform that you have a semi-automatic weapon under your seat. In some states you must respond to the question if you’re asked, “Do you have a gun?,” but you don’t need to volunteer the information.

What the absolute f*ck?

We wonder why our police men and women are getting a little testy, right? This article is meant in no way to excuse the excesses and unjustified shootings of any American civilian, but what the hell is going on if so called innocent gun owners can hide their gun from the police?

We really have to ask ourselves who we are trying to protect when we allow those with concealed weapons to simply pretend they are unarmed. If you own your gun legally, and have a permit to carry it concealed, why do you need to lie to the cops about it, even by omission? How is this law not a threat to the police?

This country has lost its mind over guns. Police officers who are just trying to do their jobs have to fear that everyone they talk to is hiding a loaded weapon.

Nice middle aged ladies like me have to wonder about everyone I see at the mall or the coffee shop, wondering how many of them have deadly weapons in their purses.

If only every gun carrying driver was as thoughtful as the one in this video, who shows you the right way to do things.

Featured image by André Gustavo Stumpf via Flickr.  Available through Creative Commons Attribution Generic license 2.0.

Karen is a retired elementary school teacher with many years of progressive activism behind her. She is the proud mother of three young adults who were all arrested with Occupy Wall Street. To see what she writes about in her spare time, check out her blog at "Empty Nest, Full Life"