The case of a New Jersey woman who was murdered this week because New Jersey authorities dragged their feet on her application for a handgun permit proves yet again that the state’s draconian gun laws are incredibly dangerous to law-abiding citizens, even though criminals are happy to ignore them.
According to press reports, hairdresser Carol Bowne believed her ex—a convicted felon—might kill her, so she applied for a restraining order and, on April 21, applied for the license. The restraining order was granted, but the gun license was still under consideration when the ex, Michael Eitel, stabbed Browne to death Wednesday night in the driveway of her home.
The sad episode is further proof that a piece of paper, like a restraining order, won’t stop an armed criminal from hurting anyone they please. As Bowne’s fellow hairdresser Denise Lovallo said, “She did absolutely everything she was supposed to do.”
