April 15, 2013 by David K. Sutton
Concealed-Carry Gun Laws To Extend Across State Lines?
Last week the Senate started debate on the bi-partisan gun bill championed by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA). Expanded background checks is the biggest gun control provision, but we need to pay special attention to something else in the bill, national reciprocity of concealed-carry permits. It means gun owners with proper permits (in states that allow concealed-carry) would be allowed to cross state lines with their concealed firearm.
I feel like this is a deal-breaker for me.
Gun rights advocates say gun bans don’t work because cities like Chicago have tough gun laws and yet they are plagued by endless gun violence. But the problem with this argument is that Chicago, and other locations with strict gun control laws, do not exist in a vacuum. People are able to acquire their firearms in less restrictive locations (legally or illegally) and then bring them to more restrictive locations.
Allowing concealed-carry across state lines, even in states that do not permit their own residents to carry a concealed firearms, is a huge mistake. I recognize that this concession was probably considered necessary if there is to be a chance of passing a gun control bill, but I’m not sure the watered down version of extended background checks in this particular bill is enough to overcome this huge victory for concealed-carry advocates.
I want to support even the most basic form of gun control to keep momentum going, but I’m having a hard time accepting national reciprocity of concealed-carry laws.
