Dan Casey is The Roanoke Times' metro columnist.

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Dan Casey

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Reader response to last Sunday's column about how I obtained my Virginia concealed handgun permit has been heavy.

Heavy in numbers, heavy on emotion and heavy on rights that folks discern in both the Second and First amendments to the Constitution.

Just a bit of background: I applied for and obtained my concealed-carry permit recently. I met the criminal background check requirements, and I proved my gun "competence" by taking a one-hour online course that cost $39.95 and passing its 20-question quiz.

But I have never touched a handgun.

The state is required to accept this online training because of a law the General Assembly enacted this year. It was introduced by Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax County, who is running for attorney general.

The course I took is operated by a man who gave Cuccinelli's campaign $1,000.

Shields Jarrett of Roanoke believes the law is a fantastic time-saver.

"Thanks for saving me and who knows how many others several hours of class to obtain our [concealed-carry permits]," he wrote. "Your article was very informative and I'm sure will be used by many to obtain their licenses regardless of their knowledge or proficiency with firearms."

But Susan Woods, also of Roanoke, was alarmed.

"After reading your column I was very upset and very proud of you for having the guts to write it and also for the Roanoke Times for publishing it," she wrote. "I had no idea our gun laws were that ... stupid is the only word that comes to mind."

Rocky Mount resident Shellie Leete said I was missing a great big point.

"You have a permit, or in any place in this country you can walk into any inner city and buy a gun without a permit," she wrote.

Many readers noted that I don't need a permit to exercise my First Amendment rights. That is obvious from the shoddy content of my columns, some said.

Tim Witten of Roanoke said he understood my point about training.

But, "I don't think being proficient at shooting or using it matters. It's our right to own one for purposes of defense," he wrote. "Do I think it is a good idea to become familiar with it prior to carrying? Absolutely ... Fortunately, I'd bet the vast majority of people getting these are more than proficient with them."

Fairfax lawyer John Vecchione questioned whether any training should be required for a constitutional right.

"A person may represent himself in court with no legal training. The Constitution protects that right. The overwhelming result of a person representing himself is failure. That is not the case with concealed carry. Constitutional rights do not need a 'mother may I' from the State.

"Good for AG (it is to be hoped) Cuccinelli. Bad for you," Vecchione added.

To that I would note: No federal court has recognized concealed carry as a constitutional right.

Not all the responses came from Virginia. After the column was posted to a conservative Web site, I was flooded with responses from across the nation.

One was from Ray Conrad of New Castle, Del.

"Bravo to you for obtaining a concealed carry permit. Since you now possess one the law (and prosecuting attorneys) will now hold you to a higher standard. ... Your liability and responsibility has increased, congratulations. You may just have in you the makings of a citizen instead of a mere pundit."

But Californian Paul Guggenbuehl wrote an entertaining screed in which he questioned whether I should have a permit at all.

"Virginia should have done a much better background check and once they found out you are a zombie-minded liberal who doesn't give a damn about the constitution or the 2nd Amendment or just plain rights of Americans, they should have revoked your permit immediately!" he wrote.

Comments like that prompted this observation from Roanoker Brendan Bush:

"The biggest obstacle gun advocates have to overcome is themselves. The scare tactics that the NRA is using to boost the rolls, and manufacturers are using to sell guns and ammo, only helps to marginalize the movement in the eyes of the public."

And that, folks, will likely be the last word on guns in this column for a while.

But they're still coming hot and heavy on the blog.

See you over there.

Dan Casey's column runs Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.