Nov 7, 2013 2 min read

Speaking of crime, Tuesday’s edition of the Observer-Reporter contained a disturbing story about two road-rage incidents, both involving guns being pointed by angry drivers at the drivers and occupants in other vehicles.

In both instances – one in Canonsburg and the other on I-79 in South Strabane Township – charges include carrying the guns without a license. But that’s beside our point, which is that almost no one needs to be driving around with a gun in the glove compartment.

It may not be quite as easy to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon as it is to get a library card, but those applying need not offer a compelling reason to do so. But just because you can legally walk around with a gun in your pocket or in your car doesn’t mean that you should. After all, just because the law allows drivers to operate a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol level of .079 does not mean that everyone should have three drinks before getting behind the wheel of a car.

You are many more times likely to have your gun stolen from your vehicle (check the Police Beat almost daily) than to have an opportunity to defend your life with it.

Driving with loaded weapons often leads to incidents like Tuesday’s, sometimes, as has happened here, with fatal results. Think about it, and leave the gun at home.