I see both sides of the "National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act"

[Logical]

I have my CCW license and think honest and "qualified" citizens should have a right to carry concealed.

But this law does have some issues. It seems that if a state thinks you should have fired a weapon before you are allowed to carry concealed then the state should be able to refuse licenses from states that do not even require the person to have fired a weapon at all. Also, some states have NO training requirements like Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Washington. I can understand some state legislatures not wanting to allow these citizens to carry concealed in their states.

But, at the same time, a honest citizen with a licence from any state is ALWAYS more qualified and more acceptable than a criminal who ignores the state laws anyway ans will always be armed.

So I can understand pro-gun house and senate members voting either way on this. Like Scalia said, "Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose." So maybe states deciding the minimum requirements for people in their states to carry concealed should be ok.

[geckosfeet]

1. Some states are so rural, and guns are so ubiquitous, that finding someone

who has never fired one may be more difficult than finding someone who has. On the other hand, in urban states with large population centers finding people who have fired a gun may be more difficult.

In any case, you make a good point. A completely untrained (but honest) gun owner may be seen as too much of a risk to stomach for states that have fairly rigorous licensing requirements.

This is the main issue isn't it? Who gets blamed when an innocent gets shot or an accident happens? It always looks bad for the licensing jurisdiction. But if the person comes in from out of state how is it the local license issuers fault?

Right now, in my state, I can take a class that will fulfill requirements for concealed carry in 30 states. And there are also states that provide reciprocity if you are licensed in a neighboring state. Utah for example, honors all other states licenses. Some states honor no other state licenses.

For detailed state reciprocity agreements:
Handgunlaw.us

[spin]

2. When I lived in Tampa most people that I knew had experience with firearms ...

and the majority had firearms in their home. A small but still significant percentage had concealed weapons permits and many carried on a regular basis.

Obviously in urban areas such as San Francisco, Chicago and New York City where the gun laws are far stricter than in Florida, gun ownership and the familiarity with firearms will be far lower.

[ObamaFTW2012]

3. As much as I would like to have my permit honored everywhere I go,

just like my driver's license, I am uncomfortable with the idea that Congress might pass a law granting the federal government the power to force all states to honor all other states permits. The problem I see is that such a law paves the way for the feds to enact new laws to bring uniformity to the permitting processes of the states, which will inevitably lead to all states following the practices of the most restrictive states.

I shudder at the though of having nationwide gun permitting on the New Jersey or New York models.

I would rather see this done through the courts, arguing the Full Faith & Credit Clause. I feel it would yield a similar desired result, without the opportunity for the federal government to "get a foot in the door" for new gun laws.

[spin]

4. While it sounds like a great idea to many people with carry permits ...

I would warm them to be careful what you wish for.

You might eventually find the federal government establishing the minimum standards to get a carry permit and the requirements might be very expensive and time consuming.

I personally feel that the current system works well. With my Florida permit, I can carry in most states already.

[Ruby the Liberal]

5. New Jersey has some of the most restrictive laws in the nation.

So do you tell Jersey to screw off because Florida allows things Jersey doesn't, or repermit everyone to the lowest common denominator?

[one-eyed fat man]

9. Drivers licenses

Drivers licenses are often used as a comparison. My ex wife did not have a driver's license until we moved to a state where there was no requirement to demonstrate parallel parking on the the drivers test.

It's not that she didn't drive, she couldn't park and didn't have a license because she could never pass the test. How many people would expect a 26 year old native born American woman not have a license?

Driver's testing in each state is different. I have taken tests where I had to demonstrate the ability to back up 200, to perform a y-turn on residential street as well as parallel park as part of a road test that included city and highway driving. Some states require separate tests for cars and motorcycles. I took one driver's test that was once around the block and that's it. If I come from a state with a minimal testing requirement to a state where the testing is more rigorous, they do not stop me at the state line and say you have to take "our" road test to drive here.

What they do require is that I obey their traffic laws. They don't care what the speed limit is back where I come from, whether or not you can make right turns on a red light, or if a California stop is good enough.

They expect me to know and obey their laws. If I am eastbound on I-94 when I hit the Minnesota line, Minnesota expects me to drive at 70. Explaining that I have been doing 85 since I left Wibaux, Montana will not impress the state trooper one bit.

The real burden on a gun owner traveling across several states is knowing what qualifies as justifiable self defense in each state. If you are in a state that requires you to retreat if at all possible, the question won't be was shooting the "bad guy" justifiable, it will be why didn't you run when you had the chance?

The states most opposed are the "may issue" states where the ability of a prospective CCW holder to make a sufficiently large enough "contribution" to the sheriff's reelection campaign, the police department's cup and flower fund, or fame and notoriety determine if a person has a life worth protecting.

[gejohnston]

11. each state does it own thing

and accepts and rejects CCWs for its own reasons. Should Wyoming be forced to allow New Jersey's just because they do Florida's?

[ObamaFTW2012]

17. Knowing the federal government,

the system would align with the most restrictive states' requirements for permitting and carry. No thanks.

[RSillsbee]

18. repermit everyone to the lowest common denominator?

Vermont? Bring it.

[krispos42]

6. I think maybe a tiered national system would work

States could pick from, say 3 standards of CCW permits. States that want the loosest standard would issue under Tier 1, states with the strictest would issue under Tier 3. The caveat is that if your state is Tier X, it has to reciprocate will other states that are Tier X or below.

So the states that feel they need to have the strictest standard could opt for Tier 3 (or whatever is the highest number) BUT they have to recognize all other states that meet Tier 3 (or whatever) standards.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Some states require a blood test to enter into marriage.

My state doesn't. Should my marriage be invalidated upon entry to a state that does?

Just a thought. There are a lot of things, especially in the licensure realm that might vary on licensing requirements from state to state. Including the difficulty/manner of driving exam. That doesn't keep marriage licenses or drivers licenses from a 'less regulated' state to be invalid in a more difficult state to obtain the same license.

[Logical]

8. Then let's push for law to honor gay marriages nationwide also!

[gejohnston]

10. Cool

make it, CCW, and single payer all on the same bill. I would be fun to see what happens.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

12. heh. heh.

:thumbsup:

[Logical]

13. I love it. Lets see if the GOP supports that dual bill!

[AtheistCrusader]

15. Holy shit, the capital building janitors would run out of mops with all the heads exploding.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. DOMA must be repealed with all haste.

It is clearly unconstitutional. I'm totally on-board with that.

[Uncle Omar]

16. BLOOD IN THE STREETS

THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT NEED TO CARRY IN THE USA ARE THE POLICE. IF THIS PASSES THE USA WILL BE LIKE THE WILD WEST. PEOPLE SHOOTING OTHERS IN THE STREETS.

[iverglas]

19. and some day

"Uncle Omar" will be held up to us as an example.

great big

SNORK