Posted on 03/21/2012 1:13:43 PM PDT by neverdem
A bill to protect concealed carry permit holders, sponsored by Sen. John R. Thune (R-SD) and Sen. David B. Vitter (R-LA), has been introduced with strong Republican support in the Senate.
"I am pleased to introduce legislation that strikes a balance between states' rights and individuals' Second Amendment rights outlined by the Constitution," Thune said.
The legislation, which has drawn initial support from 28 Republican senators, is called the Respecting States' Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, S. 2213.
Thune said that the bill will allow law-abiding concealed carry permit holders to cross state lines without being afraid of breaking the law and that the legislation provides a good balance between respecting the right of states to create their own laws and also protecting gun owners from the different laws of states that they pass through.
Thune said that the law stays in line with the Constitution because it refrains from making a national standard for concealed carry while also protection Second Amendment rights.
The Respecting States' Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act will protect residents of both concealed carry as well as Constitutional Carry states. Constitutional Carry states don’t require a permit to carry a concealed gun. The protection of Constitutional Carry citizens is the main difference between this bill and the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012, which was sponsored by Democrats last week.
The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2012 was sponsored by Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), and originally had the support of many Republicans.
“I’m leading the effort to provide consistency so law-abiding gun owners can carry concealed firearms in every state that permits them without having to navigate confusing rules and regulations in different states,” said Begich.
However, the Republicans that were originally working on that legislation jumped over to support the Thune-Vitter bill instead due to the belief that the Thune-Vitter bill would go farther in protecting gun owners.
One of the Senators that made the switch was Sen. Mike D. Crapo (R-ID), who was initially announced as a co-sponsor of the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, but pulled out and switched to work on the Thune-Vitter Bill. Crapo believes that the Thune-Vitter bill is a stronger approach to supporting reciprocal concealed carry permitting rights among the states that allow it.
A bill similar to the Thune-Vitter one introduced in the Senate made its way through the House in November of last year, which was sponsored by Rep. Cliff B. Stearns (R.-FL) and Rep. J. Heath Shuler (D.-NC). The House bill H.R. 822 drew the support of 40 Democrats and passed on a vote of 272 to 154.
The last time that Thune introduced similar concealed carry legislation in 2009 it nearly passed, gaining 58 votes in the Senate.
The following senators support the Respecting States' Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act:
Ayotte (R-NH), Barrasso (R-WY), Boozman (R-AR), Burr (R-NC), Chambliss (R-GA), Coburn (R-OK), Cochran (R-MS), Cornyn (R-TX), Crapo (R-ID), DeMint (R-SC), Enzi (R-WY), Graham (R-SC), Grassley (R-IA), Hatch (R-UT), Inhofe (R-OK), Isakson (R-GA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Lee (R-UT), Lugar (R-IN), McConnell (R-KY), Paul (R-KY), Portman (R-OH), Risch (R-ID), Rubio (R-FL), Sessions (R-AL), Thune (R-SD), Toomey (R-PA) Vitter (R-LA) and Wicker (R-MS).
Voinovich is retired now. Lugar is being primaried, so now he's got religion.
Git-er-done!
This goes nowhere with the Senate under Rat control...
Send this link to anyone opposed to concealed carry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1IKeyTvakA&feature=player_embedded#!
FYI, it is about a former cop who argues that every adult should have firearms and a concealed carry license. Audio of 2 incidents (rather horrific - not safe for kids) is in this video.
As for those against forcing states to recognize the carry licenses of other states, there’s the “full faith and credit” clause in the Constitution that mandates that states recognize the official papers of other states. They recognize marriage and auto licenses...then they should also recognize carry licenses. This legislation is necessary to force states like NY and IL to follow the law of the land.
FYI, I think that the words of the Constitution are quite simple and clear - that NO license should be necessary to carry. However, I’d rather have a shall-issue license and not worry about getting hauled off to jail than to be the test case, especially given the traditional hostility in the courts to concealed carry.
Check out Kwong v. Bloomberg. It's about NYC's excessive fees for a “'residence premises' handgun license.”
Thanks for the link. I’m deep behind enemy lines, NYC.
Supreme Law of the Land. Laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. Judges in every State shall be bound thereby. Right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Powers NOT granted to the federal government nor PROHIBITED to the States by the Constitution are reserved to the States or the people.
Using that, they wouldn't even need to bring up the 14th Amendments Privileges and Immunities clause.
The first 911 audio sent shivers up my spine.
Thanks for the link.
Maybe. Maybe not if Holder gets impeached for Fast & Furious, etc. With seven rats having announced their retirements, there are sixteen rats are trying to keep their seats in the Senate next November. Check the link in comment# 2. It's the roll call vote for this issue on July 22, 2009. I counted 20 rats voting for it.
Lugar & Voinovich failed us the last time.
Voinovich is retired now. Lugar is being primaried, so now he’s got religion.
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The NRA has endorsed Mourdock in the Indiana Republican primary:
http://www.richardmourdock.com/news
I strongly encourage all of you HOOSIERS out there to VOTE FOR MOURDOCK. Let’s get the CINO/RINO Lugar out of the Senate and a true CONSERVATIVE in.
“....The last time that Thune introduced similar concealed carry legislation in 2009 it nearly passed, gaining 58 votes in the Senate.....”
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It needed 60 votes to pass. When it made a difference, LUGAR was one of two Republicans who PREVENTED IT FROM PASSING.
There are a number of very decent people who have been killed in the past three years who WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY EXCEPT FOR LUGAR. Please vote this despicable creature out in this year’s Republican primary.
I’m not a Hoosier, but thanks for the link and the news of the NRA’s endorsement.
Citizens with no criminal record should be able, at will, to carry, concealed or open, any firearm they please, hand gun or long gun, anywhere they please without let or hindrance by government authorities.
I don't see open carry working in cities. Too many of their inhabitants would get the vapors, among other reasons. Imagine open carry on mass transit. They become potential victims to co-ordinated assault by multiple perps just to steal the obvious weapon. Who has your back? An individual would have to maintain the awareness of an infantry fire team. Cities need Constitutional Carry.
LOL Remember the movie Predator 2 with Danny Glover as the cop facing the Predator who was "...in town with a few days to kill..." And the punks on the subway got into a conflict with a gentle looking business man who pulled a pistol and then the punks drew theirs whereupon the entire subway car drew and aimed at the punks... up steps the Bill Paxton cop character who exclaims: "Whoa! We don't need any RUSH HOUR RAMBO'S! LOL! Rush hour RAMBO? Ya think?
The Congress has no power to pass this law for any jurisdiction EXCEPT DC, which is the one jurisdiction they failed to include.
ANY national CCW regime will inevitably be a compromise between NY fascism and Wyoming liberty. Congress has no right over police powers of the States.
I hope this bill is defeated.
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