This is in response to the Sun Journal editorial printed Aug. 16, “Open-carry puts shoppers on edge.”

The whole reason that there are concealed-carry laws on the books is because people would carry concealed weapons if they were going to commit crimes. This is also the reason why there aren’t open-carry laws in states; because when a person carries openly, they are blatantly stating that they are not a criminal.

Using the logic that there “has never been a mass shooting in Maine,” then, likewise, you must use the logic that an open carrier has never committed a crime involving any type of assault.

Likewise, the rate of police brutality and “bad shooting” is on an extreme rise. Although I am in no way anti-law enforcement, I realize that they are human. I find it disconcerting that the editorial writer finds it fine for a man with a badge as perfectly fit to carry, while a neighbor, a friend, a colleague as unfit.

Statistically, the more firearms per household, the less crime there is. That is because what criminals fear most are not police officers, they fear armed citizens.

Shane Belanger, Caribou

Founder, Maine Open Carry Association