National Right-To-Carry Reciprocity Bill Introduced

[TallBill]

http://www.nraila.org/Legislat...eral/Read.aspx?id=4330

U.S. Representatives Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.), recently introduced H.R. 197-- the "National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009"--a bill that would provide national recognition for valid state Right-to-Carry licensees.

The bill would allow any person with a valid carry permit or license issued by a state, to carry a concealed firearm in any other state if the permit holder meets certain criteria. In states that issue permits, a state's laws governing where concealed firearms may be carried would apply within its borders. In states that do not issue carry permits, a federal standard would apply. The bill would not create a federal licensing system; it would simply require the states to recognize each other's carry permits, just as they recognize drivers' licenses.

Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) is expected to introduce the Senate companion bill in the near future. Rep. Stearns has introduced such legislation since 1995.

I'm all for it. It's so silly that places don't have any concealed carry, this might be a way around that. Still has a long way to go though.

 

[an51r]

Gun rights, IMO, are some of the toughest rights to take a side on. I do believe citizens should have the right to carry a gun but not after an application, instead after a short psychological exam and training.

 

[Balt]

Doomed and they know it.

 

[Farang]

Against it. You want your carry laws in D.C., fine, go through the system there or the courts if you think their system is unconstitutional. Don't try to impose Texas laws on them. You call it a "way around" and you're right, and that is why it is wrong.

 

[MotF Bane]

It has no chance, but we need something like it.

 

[palehorse]

Originally posted by: Farang
Against it. You want your carry laws in D.C., fine, go through the system there or the courts if you think their system is unconstitutional. Don't try to impose Texas laws on them. You call it a "way around" and you're right, and that is why it is wrong.

To be fair, the city of DC is doing everything in their power to find "ways around" the Supreme Court ruling against them.

That said, this legislation is a pipe-dream given the current Congress...

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: an51r
Gun rights, IMO, are some of the toughest rights to take a side on. I do believe citizens should have the right to carry a gun but not after an application, instead after a short psychological exam and training.

The psyche exam would be a waste, but most states require training, written tests, and/or shooting tests to obtain the permit. Perhaps a bill like this could actually raise the standards which I personally wouldn't disagree with.

 

[AFMatt]

As a gun owner, I would like to see something like this pass but don't have much confidence in it actually happening.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: palehorse

Originally posted by: Farang
Against it. You want your carry laws in D.C., fine, go through the system there or the courts if you think their system is unconstitutional. Don't try to impose Texas laws on them. You call it a "way around" and you're right, and that is why it is wrong.

To be fair, the city of DC is doing everything in their power to find "ways around" the Supreme Court ruling against them.

That said, this legislation is a pipe-dream given the current Congress...

DC's "way around" does not force Texas(randomlyish chosen) to abide by their decision.

 

[GenHoth]

I wish.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Speaking as a longtime Democrat and handgun owner, who gives a crap?

 

[GenHoth]

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
Speaking as a longtime Democrat and handgun owner, who gives a crap?

Those of us who travel to other states frequently?

 

[jpeyton]

This bill will be defeated in short order.

I mean really fast.

 

[TallBill]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
This bill will be defeated in short order.

I mean really fast.

No doubt. Still gotta try though.

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
Speaking as a longtime Democrat and handgun owner, who gives a crap?

Well, a lot of states make it almost impossibly tough to get a license. Two states, including the one I live in, have no ccw at all. Kinda sucks for the citzens, and this could possibly pave the way to make it possible.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

Originally posted by: an51r
Gun rights, IMO, are some of the toughest rights to take a side on. I do believe citizens should have the right to carry a gun but not after an application, instead after a short psychological exam and training.

who sets the standard? is someone crazy if they believe a gun is useful in protecting civil liberties?

Originally posted by: GenHoth

Originally posted by: Don Vito Corleone
Speaking as a longtime Democrat and handgun owner, who gives a crap?

Those of us who travel to other states frequently?

If interstate commerce clause makes drugs illegal no matter what the states say then it should be able to make guns legal to open-carry.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: TallBill
No doubt. Still gotta try though.

True. At the end of the day, these Congressmen want to earn the votes of their constituents, and gun nuts will eat this stuff up.

 

[OCGuy]

We have to do something similar to this in Commiefornia to get a carry permit. A permit issued in any county is good state-wide.

LA/Orange county almost never issue CCWs. But there is a county up North that will issue them, so people from Socal go up to get them.

 

[Thump553]

Absolutely against it. This would negate the concept of state's rights and mean that no gun control laws in the US could be any stronger than those of the weakest state.

 

[Slick5150]

I've never understood the idea of "concealed carry". If you're so proud of that gun, I'd rather you wear it in a holster cowboy style so I know who the people are I'd rather stay the hell away from.

 

[dphantom]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
I've never understood the idea of "concealed carry". If you're so proud of that gun, I'd rather you wear it in a holster cowboy style so I know who the people are I'd rather stay the hell away from.

I wish I could openly carry. Keep nuts like you from bothering me.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: Thump553
Absolutely against it. This would negate the concept of state's rights and mean that no gun control laws in the US could be any stronger than those of the weakest state.

Exactly. Less federal involvement the better.

If a state has a law you don't agree with, get it changed there, or move to one you do like. Otherwise why bother having states at all.

 

[Brainonska511]

I'd rather not see something like this pass. The Federal government sticks in fingers in too many things. Stuff like this is for the states to decide. Don't like the law in your state? Lobby to have it changed there.

 

[KB]

The current CCW programs definitely do need a change. Right now Arizonas CCW is honored in Virgina and Florida, but not Mass. Maryland doesn't honor any states CCW. Since Maryland is so restrictive I can't get a CCW at all (although I guess if I can't get a Maryland one I don't really need one unless I travel, I would still like the option). I would like to see a federal CCW that any US citizen can apply for and each state could decide to honor the federal level CCW or not. One thing I don't want to see however is the federal government forcing itself into a states decisions/policies.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones

Originally posted by: Thump553
Absolutely against it. This would negate the concept of state's rights and mean that no gun control laws in the US could be any stronger than those of the weakest state.

Exactly. Less federal involvement the better.

If a state has a law you don't agree with, get it changed there, or move to one you do like. Otherwise why bother having states at all.

I'm not sure how I feel about this bill, however, I disagree with what you and Thump are saying. There are plenty of laws that pertain to every state. You can't ban free speech, you can't eliminate the freedom of the press, etc...

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Thump553
Absolutely against it. This would negate the concept of state's rights and mean that no gun control laws in the US could be any stronger than those of the weakest state.

How is that any different that driving licenses? You can drive across the country, despite the fact that the standards for getting a license vary across the states

Having a federal standard is probably a better idea, but generally speaking reciprocity is a good thing. Compatible laws is what allows for national coherence, otherwise this country would be like pre-EU europe.