Rick Perry said in an interview Sunday, July 26, 2015, on CNN’s “State of the Union” that the shooting in Lafayette, Louisiana, earlier this week shows why gun-free zones are “a bad idea” and said he believes people should be able to take their firearms to the movies.

“I think that it makes a lot of sense to send a message across this country,” Perry said when asked by host Jake Tapper if the former governor believed a way to prevent such violence would be to allow moviegoers to take guns inside. “If we believe in the Second Amendment, and we believe in people’s right to protect themselves and defend themselves, and their families.”

In other words after you enter the theater and take your seat you should pull out a pistol and keep it on your lap just in case there is a gunman in the room.

On the same program Donald Trump said there was “a very fine line. You’ve got to do it very judiciously. If a person is mentally ill and it’s proven and it’s documented, you have to be extremely careful not to let them kill people,” he said.

“Frankly, he should be committed. Because he has the kind of a record where he should be in a institution. He was a very sick puppy.”

Mr. Trump has essentially taken my view. We test everyone before they receive a driver’s license. That should conducted for everyone who want to buy a gun. The test should confirm you know how to handle a weapon and should include a written test and a mental evaluation. Will this be expensive? More than the cost now but perhaps will save lives.

The NRA will throw a fit over this idea. Can our congress stand up to the NRA? I doubt it. But perhaps there is a chance. I continue to hope.