[hagar]

Senator Vitter To Offer Concealed Carry Reciprocity Amendment

-- Action needed right away!

Gun Owners of America E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102, Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org

Tuesday, May 13, 2008


Senator David Vitter (R-LA) has filed a pro-gun amendment to HR 980, and it
could be voted on as early as tomorrow!

This amendment would protect the right of citizens to carry concealed
weapons (outside of their home state) in states that allow concealed carry.

Sen. Vitter explains that his amendment does not violate the rights of
states as it "does NOT establish national standards for concealed
carry, nor
does it provide for a national carry permit."

In other words, the Vitter amendment specifically says that state laws
concerning specific types of locations in which firearms may not be carried
shall be followed. "My amendment will not federalize concealed carry
permits but simply requires concealed carry permits to be recognized in
other states that allow concealed carry permits," Vitter said.

This is a real reciprocity provision which grants citizens the
"full faith
and credit" protection that is guaranteed in Article IV of the
Constitution.
Section 1 of this article says:

Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts,
Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress
may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records, and
Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

Vitter says that this constitutional provision authorizes the Congress to
pass legislation forcing each state to recognize the "public
Acts" of other
states. So if states are not willing to recognize another state's laws,
Congress has the authority to pass laws to require recognition of those
measures.

It's just like with driver's licenses. If certain states refused to honor
the driver's licenses of citizens in other states, Congress could pass
legislation (under Article IV) to require every state to honor all licenses.


ACTION: Please urge your Senators to vote for the Vitter amendment to HR
980 to protect the right to carry concealed firearms outside of your home
state.

You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at
http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators the pre-written
e-mail message below. And, you can call your Senators at 202-224-3121 or
toll-free at 1-877-762-8762.


----- Pre-written letter -----

Dear Senator:

Please support the Vitter amendment to HR 980. This amendment will protect
the right of citizens to carry firearms outside of their home state without
violating the rights of other states. Thus, the Vitter language masterfully
protects the principle of federalism while also promoting Second Amendment
rights.

A person's right to defend himself and his family should not end at the
border of his state.

I urge you to vote for the Vitter concealed carry amendment.

Sincerely,


****************************

 

[Dan @ Angola Armory]

Must vary state by state. My KY CCDW is good in 38 states, my NY ccdw in less. Repercoisity varies by state.He must be trying to level the feild.
Dan

 

[wilit]

Dear God, please let this bill be signed into law. Amen.

 

[CaliBoundAR15]

Unfortunately I don't see this one going anywhere...
States have such different training requirements required to obtain a CCW and I don't see them "leveling the playing field" without some MAJOR complaining from the individual states... I mean, how can a CCW in a state that has no training requirements be good in a state that has a mandatory 12 hours of training required?

 

[alamosaddles]

Unfortunately I don't see this one going anywhere...
States have such different training requirements required to obtain a CCW and I don't see them "leveling the playing field" without some MAJOR complaining from the individual states... I mean, how can a CCW in a state that has no training requirements be good in a state that has a mandatory 12 hours of training required?

Though some foreign countries like Kalifornia may not like it, the drivers license example is fitting. There is no one standardized exam for obtaining a drivers license. Different states do it somewhat differently, yet all states recognize that if you have a valid drivers license from any of the states or even Puerto Rico, then you are allowed to legally drive in their state as well.

Kalifornia may make a driver to do 25 specific driving actions during the driving portion of the DL exam, but Florida may only require 10, yet, they all agree if the state finds you fit to drive, then you are fit to drive, regardless of the differences in requirements from state to state. It's nice to see someone in office stepping up to the plate.

 

[drdave]

Seems unlikely to pass. Look at how many states put up laws saying that they would not recognize a gay marriage license if granted by another state. Although driver's licenses and regular marriage licenses are recognized by all the states, other credentials such as professional licenses are not. A doctor or lawyer cannot cross state lines and practice under another state's license. States like New Mexico deliberately made their carry permit requirements too difficult for most people to obtain because the politicians didn't want to issue any permits at all. Missouri deliberately dragged its feet on implementing a procedure for obtaining a permit once the law was passed creating permits, I think Michigan was the same.