Action Alert: National Carry Bill

[d90king]

Not sure of it's chances, but all the support that we can put behind it, will certainly help!

Gun Owners of America
8001 Forbes Place Suite 102
Springfield VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 / FAX: 703-321-8408


Friday, July 17, 2009

A vote to protect your right to travel out-of-state with a firearm could come to a vote next week -- even as early as Monday!

Senators John Thune and David Vitter are the sponsors of S. 845 -- a bill that will establish concealed carry reciprocity amongst the several states.

Senators Thune and Vitter offered the bill as an amendment (#1618) to the Department of Defense authorization bill (H.R. 2647).

This provision will use the constitutional authority allowing Congress to enforce "full faith and credit" across the country, so that each state respects the "public acts, records, and judicial proceedings" of every other state (Article IV).

The benefit of the Thune/Vitter legislation is that -- unlike other, competing measures -- it would protect the right of any U.S. citizen to carry out of state (regardless of whether he possesses a permit), as long as he is authorized to carry in his home state. This is important because of states like Vermont and Alaska, where residents can carry concealed without prior approval or permission from the state... in other words, without a permit!

ACTION: Please urge your Senators to vote YES on the Thune/Vitter concealed carry reciprocity amendment that will be offered to the Department of Defense authorization bill and NO on any modifying amendments. This vote could come as early as Monday, so please act on this right away!

LINK: http://www.capwiz.com/gunowners/issues/alert/?alertid=13750856

[georgeshannon]

What a shame. Failed by two votes. And one of my senators was a nay vote. I'll write a strongly worded letter to him for sure. Encouraged both to vote yay. One listened. The other did not.

Just think if our drivers licenses were handled the same way our concealed carry licenses are. What confusion. You would need to know which states you could leaglly drive through. Or take the license test in all the states that didn't recognize your state's license.

Senator Thune did a real good job argueing his proposed case. The opposition was way out in left field. Just two votes shy. What a shame.

[Aguila Blanca]

Unfortunately, a great many gun owners were vehemently OPPOSED to this bill, and very vocal about it, because they don't believe the Federal government should have anything to say about who can carry where.

Personally, I don't see this bill in that light at all. This wasn't creating a Federal carry license, or in any way telling the states what to use as criteria in issuing their licenses (not that I concede that licensure is in any way Constitutional). All this did was apply an existing clause in the Constitution to the matter of concealed carry laws.

I very much wish it had passed but, to be honest, I am surprised it came as close as it did. It could be brought up again next year -- that gives y'all a year to work on bringing around those among us who won't recognize that state-issued licenses (Constitutional or not) are the reality we deal with at the moment, so anything that brings about reciprocal recognition is an improvement over the status quo/.

[d90king]

Sadly a remarkable bill failed by such a close margin... I believe that there was some "politics" going on and that is why is was close. They knew the number before the vote.

I watched the entire debate, and vote, and was disappointed to say the least at the outcome. I laughed at the irony of some of the "state" rights issued discussed based upon those who were making them.

We need to stay on it, and promote it being reintroduced until we can muster the will to succeed in its passage.

2010, is just around the corner, take note of your politicians record in areas that are important to you.

Spector, I believe will finally lose his lifelong career... I was also surprised a Lahey's vote considering his states opinion on the matter of 2a and self protection...

[d90king]

Just think if our drivers licenses were handled the same way our concealed carry licenses are. What confusion. You would need to know which states you could leaglly drive through. Or take the license test in all the states that didn't recognize your state's license.


Rights and privileges are different... Most "rights" you are born with. Mr Adams believed you were born with the right to defend yourself, family and property... Those were not "granted" by any form of government instead given at birth by your maker.

[kenhwind]

The Thune/Vitter Amendment was a good one and as posted DID NOT create a Federal level of concealed carry. What this amendment did was clarify on a National level the reciprocity laws and agreements that have already been made by the States, and did not make Nation wide concealed carry legal.
Of course Chuckie Schumer launched his usual tirade how we would be able to carry ANYWEAR.
It was doomed, Chuckie said so right from the getgo.
The vote was probably staged to look good and still be a loser.

[Aguila Blanca]

It has been suggested that several Democrats were allowed to vote in favor in order to look better to their constituents, because it was a foregone conclusion that the bill would be defeated. That would not surprise me.

I HATE politics, and politicians.

[d90king]

It has been suggested that several Democrats were allowed to vote in favor in order to look better to their constituents, because it was a foregone conclusion that the bill would be defeated. That would not surprise me.

I HATE politics, and politicians.



I agree on both points... They knew the numbers before the votes were cast. They had 3 no's sitting on the sidelines...

I also despise what politics has turned into over the course of time in this Country. They no longer serve the people... instead they serve themselves and their cronies.

[Old Fashioned]

The amendment to remove the money from the bill for the purchase of additional F-22 fighters passed with 58 yes votes but when it came to the reciprocity amendment, they agreed to require 60 yes votes for passage. Sure does sound like it was staged to make some senators look good.

[kenhwind]

Politics as usual, or should it be spelled Poli-TICKS:
http://paracom.paramountcommunication.com/hostedemail/email.htm?h=2751d703ccc1f67fe9a195efef3dd6ca&CID=mcid