The amendment offered up for consideration by South Dakota Republican John Thune to create National reciprocity among states that issue concealed carry licenses is generating a lot of debate from both sides of the issue.
The anti-gun side is mounting the usual attacks, saying this would lead to an increase in crime. As if concealed carry licensees in Pennsylvania have been waiting for just this opportunity to cross the border into Ohio and go on a crime spree.
One of the lies being toted is that this amendment to the defense spending bill would allow ccw holders to take guns across state lines. Of course, there is no such prohibition right now, only that they cannot carry their handgun in another state if they do not have a permit for that state or one that state recognizes. Many states already have reciprocity agreements or otherwise recognize the permits of other states.
What these critics fail to report is that this does nothing more than allow someone who is already allowed to carry a firearm for self defense in their own state to do so in another state subject to the visited state's own rules. Some anti-gun democrats are so afraid the bill will pass they are trying to halt the democratic process and not even allow it to be considered. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) are threatening to filibuster the amendment.
On the other side of the aisle, some pro-gun pundits are wary of enacting national controls on the issue of concealed carry. It has long been feared by those in states with more lax rules for issuance that more stringent restrictions would be placed on their own residents for obtaining a concealed handgun license. Another fear is that a national license would be created and mandated, and that this license could then be changed by an anti-gun administration to become a may-issue license given only to a select few with special privileges and that state permits would be ruled invalid.
Another concern is that state's rights are further being eroded by federal mandate, though that argument can be countered by pointing out each state still has it's own criteria for issuance in place and their laws must be followed by nonresidents who would then be little different from that state's own residents.
The issue may be resolved in the next 48 hours as action on the amendment is expected by tomorrow at the latest.
Comments
If all states must recognize marriages performed in other states why not ccw permits. I live on the border of NY. The indoor shooting range is just across the border in NY, so PA residence can't legally carry to the range for practice...
Despite Democratic fear mongering, statistics show that CCW permit holders have one of the lowest rates both of committing gun crime and of accidental discharge of firearms. Even police have higher rates on both fronts.
The problem with gun control is it is not gun crime control as it only restricts the right to purchase, keep, and bear (as in "carry") arms of law abiding citizens. Not recognizing CCW permits does not stop someone from ILLEGALLY carrying it, but does disarm the law-abiding gun-ownwers visiting a state who carry for personal protection, and disarming the innocent does not protect the innocent.
Of all the unconstitutional laws that the congress passes, this one is actually constitutional.
Article 1 sec 4 of the Constitution give the congress the power to pass this law.
IF this turned into a system where a permit is required at the national level, then it's unconstitutional, but as it stands now, I'm all for it
Why can't people get it? Why are there people, American people (supposedly) that have this, this mental block & breakdown on what the 2nd Amendment says, I just can't understand why people who are OUR representatives for US in OUR U.S. Congress want to NOT let the American people have the freedom that OUR forefathers wrote, argued & fought for so we could be a free people! My thinking is that anyone that keeps that from happening is NOT an American & should be listed & wrote down that way some-where's, where anyone could see their name, so ALL could see that they are Anti-American & traitors to The United States of America.........Period!!
For many decades Michigan has recognized concealed pistol licenses from all states, even though Michigan has one of the nation's most rigorous CPL laws. We have experienced no special problems as a consequence. Those who oppose Thume's bill have no argument whatsoever.
It's silly to think the Thune National CHL Reciprocity is more "controls" on carrying when it plainly says that it merely requires just that: RECIPROCITY.
You ability in your home state carries into the states you visit -- under the laws established for residents of that state.
Of course ALL gun control laws should just be repealed*, but this is a good step in that direction.
*Since none of them can be shown to work.
None of the CDC, DoJ, nor the National Academy of Science has been able to identify any (ANY!) gun control law which can be shown to reduce any (ANY!) of murder, violent crime, suicides nor accidents.
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