I worry about a National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill, not because of what it does by itself, but because it might set the stage for bad things in the future.
Reciprocity between states is a very important state power, because it recognizes that different states have different ways of doing things, and agreements of that sort do not impact state sovereignty. But if the federals horn in for any reason, no matter how noble on the surface, it is interfering with their state rights and prerogatives.
And the *lack* of reciprocity is just as important. Just because gun controlling states control guns, they cannot force gun liberty states to do so. And for many years in the 1970s and later, only state sovereignty protected the rights of many gun owners.
Reciprocity also involves other issues, from extradition to marriage laws, that are best left up to individual states as long as what they decide conforms to federal law.
The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill opens the door to federal imposition of rules, be they good or bad. And the federals have done so terribly much bad in the past, it is hardly reassuring for them to assert even more power, over the idea that “it is okay this time, because we’re doing it for a good cause.”
They have broken that trust before, and we should be very hesitant to “sell our birthright for a mess of pottage.”
National (interstate) RTC is unwise, for many reasons.
Congress should absolutely mandate DC reciprocity for ALL state CCW permits tomorrow, however, since THAT is clearly within their power.