Dear D.C., Maryland, Chicago and New York City:

Thank you for your tough gun control laws, please keep up the good work!

A short trip to New York has always been enjoyable and helps me get back some perspective on life. I'm comfortable in the subways and know where not to go and when not to go there.

That being said, one thing is now different -- my heightened situational awareness. Maybe it's the permanent State Police presence at government offices near mine, the huddles of 'barely old enough to shave' kids at Grand Central wearing fatigues and carrying what everybody knew to be unloaded guns. (This seems somewhat like Barney Fife asking permission to put his bullet in his gun. Then again, maybe Kent State did teach a few lessons.) Perhaps it's the three middle-aged, Middle Eastern men who boarded the subway unchallenged while one of the aforementioned 'Barneys' obcessed over a suspicious piece of electronics in my rollabout. (A digital projector)

A few of the small, dark neighborhood streets I normally enjoy visiting for great ethnic foods felt ominous and uncomfortable. I couldn't put my finger on the feeling until I analyzed it.

I'm usually dressed for business and look like a typical, law-abiding person, going about their affairs. Looking like a law-abiding citizen may be great for meetings, sales calls and traffic stops, but on the streets of New York, Chicago, Maryland and D.C. it's like wearing a big "PLEASE ROB ME - I'M HELPLESS" sign across your back.

I always feel a sense of relief and gratitude when I return to Virginia, and now I have an idea how uneasy a criminal must be when looking for prey on my Virginia streets.

While in the city I'm constantly looking over my shoulder, not knowing whether the next bunch of rowdy 'thugged-out looking' teens are 'hip' tourist kids from Des Moines or armed thugs, ready to attack. It's that uneasy uncertainty that keeps me cautious and steers me wide to avoid potential unsafe encounters. Not knowing who the bad guys are, I have to assume almost everyone is.

That assumption also works the other way.

It's well established that criminals fear encountering an armed would-be victim more than being caught by the police. Criminals in Virginia (and other concealed carry states) are never quite sure if the next passerby will be a potential victim or be ready to present a swift, effective and deadly defense. It's not knowing who the good-guys with guns are that help keep the violent criminals on the other side of the Potomac river.

So, thank you New York, D.C. and Chicago and Maryland. By continuing to keep your most honest and law-abiding subjects disarmed and helpless you are empowering armed criminals, making them feel safe and welcome. You give them power to fearlessly and arrogantly wander among the sheep, culling out prey with disdain for both law and authority.

With such anti-rights localities for neighbors Virginia becomes far less attractive to the bad guys and a much safer place to live. Who is a rapist more likely to hit -- a known defenseless woman, or a woman who may be armed and prepared to resist with deadly force if necessary?

I have great empathy for your situation and hope that some day all of our rights will be fully restored.

In the interim, however -- better you than me!

Gratefully,