With the shooting death of Councilman Davis in New York a few days ago, city leaders across America are undoubtedly raising concerns about their own safety, and drifting closer to earning "Gun Fearing Wussy" status. In Virginia, where persons with a concealed handgun permit are allowed to carry in most municipal buildings, including the capitol building, irrational fear is exceptionally high. Of course, what aggravates the fear, is that local governments are not permitted to ban permit holders from public buildings, under the state preemption law.

The Virginian Pilot notes that the debate about firearm possession has really been heating up following the New York shooting.

In municipal buildings, tempers sometimes run high over disputes concerning taxes, property taxes and parking tickets, [Jim Sollo, board chairman of the Virginians Against Handgun Violence Ownership] said, and firearms should be restricted from the potentially volatile environments.

Even if guns are merely shown and not used, he said, "it could be intimidating to public servants."

That is ridiculous. Brandishing a firearm without just cause is a crime, with or without a permit. Doing so in a city building that is filled with police officers might just get you thrown out of the gene pool.

Of course, the whole New York incident is a complete red herring. Councilman Davis was shot by someone he knew rather well, and someone he had invited into the building. Comparing that to "random" violence doesn't measure up. Plus, New York already has strict gun control, which clearly wasn't enough to help Mr. Davis.

That doesn't stop politicians in Northern Virginia from trying to create the false analogy. Today's Fairfax Journal (subscriber only) notes that the incident in New York has caused Alexandria City Councilwoman Joyce Woodson to "flip out".

"It sort of gives rise to the fear that many of us live with in Virginia," Woodson said. "I would like to see greater security in public buildings, especially since Virginia law allows people to carry concealed handguns as long as they are licensed."

Apparently Woodson lives in fear more because of licensed permit holders than because of the thugs that wander the streets of Alexandria day in and day out. She must lead a sheltered life.

At the center of all of the debate, is the mind set of the gun fearing wussy. I honestly believe that these people have trouble controlling their emotions. I can only presume that Sollo fears that people will go on a shooting rampage, because that is something he would do if you made him angry enough. Ms. Woodson is apparently more afraid to go to work then she is wandering the streets of Alexandria.

Ironically, even banning guns in government buildings will not make them gun free. For one thing, the police will have guns. For another, it is impossible to make any facility gun free. We cannot keep guns out of our schools, off our airplanes, or even out of our prisons. (If you don't believe me about the availability of weapons in prison, just ask this guy.)

Of course, you should also ask yourself just what is it that these politicians are doing, that they are so worried about being dragged out of their offices and shot because of it.