Posted on 05/05/2012 7:44:17 PM PDT by marktwain
A bill that would allow citizens to carry concealed handguns over state lines is catching harsh criticism from opponents in the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting.
The bill is the brainchild of Senators David Witter and John Thune, Republicans of Louisiana and South Dakota, respectively. They call it the "Respecting States' Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act," and what the bill does is pretty much all right there in the name.
Basically, if you're allowed to carry a concealed gun in your home state, then that alone should be enough to let you carry a weapon in just about any other state. The central ideas driving the bill are to streamline an already complicated licensing process, and to make the national right to bear arms a bit more accessible.
Unsurprisingly, a few restrictions would still apply. Illinois and Washington DC don't issue concealed carry permits, so your out-of-state concealed carry permit wouldn't fly in these regions. Also, you'd have to respect all state-specific laws, so if you enter a state that bans weapons on college campuses then you'll be required to follow the rules.
Even though this bill would be incredibly effective at simplifying state-to-state gun laws, the Trayvon Martin incident is giving opponents plenty of ammunition. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, is doing everything within her power to oppose the bill, calling it "dangerous" and saying that it would "undermine state's rights." Additionally, the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence recently participated in a news conference in DC to share the pain that they experienced because of guns.
It's a shame that the recent events in Florida are making people doubt a perfectly sensible bill, but hopefully the Senate won't let a news fervor limit the rights of American citizens.
Ya mean if a guy’s sitting on my chest and pounding my skull on the pavement it’s OK to shoot him in MY state but NEVER in another?
Really?
Better not leave home.
This would restore to all citizens the rights now (and only very recently) affirmed for active and retired law enforcement officers.
most importantly every state between NY and FL is included so local snowbirds can travel with their pistols
look around where you live for similar classes
I asked a trainer at the range what an "informal" recognition meant, and he said that if the cop doesn't like the way you look, he doesn't have to recognize your permit.
And still despite the leftist media and racist activist best efforts most people still support the right to keep and bare arms, as well as the ARMED neighborhood watch.
Not that the support or opposition of the majority should matter where a man’s rights are concerned.
Constitutions are consented to by men for the protection of their remaining rights. To do this men consent to ceded select and defined rights to the discretion of the state and thus its ruling majority.
Depends on what you call "recently", it was signed into law in Bush's first term. By the way, Al Gore supported this law too.
And I ask why I as a law abiding citizen of the United States of America with no criminal record that would keep me from owning a gun needs to have a permit at all?
Yeah, I'm confusing the date of passage with the ridiculously long time it has taken certain states (like Pennsylvania) to actually implement the law.
State beaurocracies can be masters of passive aggressive when there is a DemocRAT Governor who opposes a federal mandate.
Wait until they find out about the proposed Wyoming law that'll provide that the drivers' licenses and license plates for those from other states that don't recognize Wyoming handgun carry permits will no longer be valid in Wyoming. I anticipate state highway patrol checkpoints right outside several likely locations, including Yellowstone National Park.
You don't need a permit to carry in Wyoming. And we're working on covering out-of-staters carrying concealed as well.
I can’t understand why Article Four of the US Constitution isn’t applicable to Concealed Carry.
I like it.
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