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I think this is a classic "You can please all of the people some of the time or some of the people all of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time," scenario.

The preservation board was essentially forced to make a lose/lose decision. If an escaped inmate went on a shooting spree or a terrorist set off a bomb in the Capitol, everyone would immediately blame the board for not doing more to protect the public, legislators, and staff. But if the board bans concealed carry in the Capitol (either through a stretch of the "at any meeting of a governmental entity" clause or by introducing and promoting a piece of legislation), they face not only opposition from gun rights advocates but also accusations of hypocrisy from gun control advocates, who would immediately point out that these pro-gun officials are more than willing letting CHL holders carry guns in other people's workplaces but not in their own.

Under the circumstances, I think they did the best they could*.

*I think the CHL line should be a staff/journalists/CHL line (which, based on some accounts, it may be; I've simply heard it described as being labeled "CHL"). As previously stated, I don't like the idea of all CHL holders being separated from the crowd and lined up for public viewing.

ELB wrote:A line marked "CHL", especially one that is used by state employees and legislators and cops as well is not a big deal. The law says you can carry concealed, it doesn't guarantee "covert" carry.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the situation. Is this a "CHL Only" line or a staff/employee line with a sign indicating that CHL holders should also use that line? I don't care if the people standing behind me in line see me showing my CHL to a state trooper; I just don't want one line to be a CHL holder viewing gallery.

Also, I liked the strategy much better when CHL holders weren't going to be required to say if they were armed. That way, anyone who saw you flashing your CHL would simply know that you have the license but have no way of knowing if you are actually packing or just taking advantage of the "express lane."

FYI, if you're planning a trip to the Capitol this summer, it's going to be under heavy renovation, so you may not be able to see the galleries or other key attractions.

As for the metal detectors, I think state officials are going out of their way to allow CHL holders to enter the building armed. But their strategy sucks. Having CHL holders walk through a special line marked "CHL" flies in the face of concealed carry. The strategy, as originally stated, was to allow CHL holders to enter through the staff entrance. That would have been much more discrete and, for me, much less objectionable.