Let the fear mongering begin. Concealed carry is being debated in the state Legislature once again, which would allow any law abiding Wisconsin citizen over 21 years old to carry a concealed weapon after paying a fee, undergoing a criminal background check and extensive safety training. This law was debated two years ago and vetoed by Gov. Jim Doyle. It's now being re-introduced by state Sen. Dave Zien and state Rep. Scott Gunderson.

Fear mongering is crucial to this bill's defeat.

Wisconsin is going to transform into the Wild West, with a bunch of John Waynes running around with guns locked and loaded, ready to take ten paces in preparation for a daily State Street shoot-out. Gun-shy folks will suddenly turn into snipers, targeting drunks on Dayton Street walking home from the bars while nestled and hidden in their Ogg Hall dorm rooms. People will be pulling out their guns at the slow checkout clerk or aiming right for the lunch lady because she made a horrible sloppy Joe.

Here's one meaningless phrase that I'm sick of in this debate and many others: "If it only saves one life."

If you only hear this phrase in an argument, you have won the intellectual debate. We could do lots of things to "save one life." We could ban all fatty foods. We could get rid of cars, alcohol, cigarettes, airplanes and bungee jumping. We could ban football because some player died of a heart attack after practice due to physical exhaustion.

Ridiculous, you say? Absolutely, and that's my point. We as a society have to establish a proper balance between freedom and government intervention. We could ban all things that are a "risk" to someone's life, but if we did that our lives would be miserable. On the other hand, most people understand that unfettered capitalism and absolute libertarianism are unrealistic. It's the reason we have labor laws. It's also the reason that we have certain economic restrictions in our society and it's the reason we pay taxes.

The gun debate is one that illustrates the use of purely emotional rhetoric, mostly by the anti-gun crowd. For example, Maya Cole, a Madison mother of three, recently voiced her opposition to concealed carry by passionately proclaiming at the capitol, "If I'm attacked, I'm supposed to decide which twin's hand I drop so that I can reach in my purse and dig through my calendar, my calculator, my wallet, find my armed weapon and shoot the person." Ms. Cole called my radio show last week in regards to this issue, and seems to be a very nice, intelligent and thoughtful woman. However, her previous statement is irrelevant because it ignores the fact that no one would be forced to carry a weapon or use one for that matter. Some people choose to protect themselves with guns, and some don't.

Another example of a non-factual argument came from Jeri Bonavia, executive director of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, who seems to be totally close-minded to any facts or arguments made in opposition to her stance: "Frankly, it doesn't matter what the details of the bill are. The bottom line is that any legislation that puts more hidden, loaded guns on our streets is irresponsible and dangerous."

Then there's always the default argument: "If it only saves one life."

Consider this. According to the FBI's own statistics, right-to-carry states have a 24 percent lower average violent crime rate, a 22 percent lower homicide rate, 37 percent fewer robberies and a 22 percent lower aggravated assault rate when compared with states that have more restrictive right-to-carry laws, like Wisconsin. Forty-six states already have concealed carry legislation.

I have never been a fan of the NRA because of their extensive lobbying and partisanship favoring Republican nominees at every turn in an almost blind, sycophantic fashion. For example, most people don't know that Sen. Russ Feingold has a stellar record on second amendment rights, yet the NRA would never voice a hint of support for our Senator because he's a Democrat. That being said, emotional rhetoric on the anti-gun side that I've mentioned is precisely that and nothing more.

Finally, I'll end with another phrase that has little meaning, "Guns don't kill people. People do." The phrase should be modified: "Guns don't kill people. People do, in times of justifiable homicide, unjustifiable homicide, self-defense, war or out of irrational mental instability." Ok, I'm going back to my gun-free apartment now.

Casey Hoff ([email protected]) is a University of Wisconsin student and host of "New Ground with Casey Hoff," live Monday through Friday, 9-11 a.m., on Madison 1670 The Pulse.