When asked, he states that concealed carry laws should be dealt with at the state level.
Unfortunately that's exactly where the states start infringing on the 2nd Amendment as noted in recent stories about Illinois and New Jersey. A strong statement in support of National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011 would be a great deal-sealer for Cain.
“Unfortunately that’s exactly where the states start infringing on the 2nd Amendment as noted in recent stories about Illinois and New Jersey.”
But the converse is true as well. The Second Amendment sets the bottom threshold for gun liberties. States like AZ, AK, and VA are redefining the upper threshold. By relying on a national standard, you hold everyone to the same level of mediocrity.
Politics changes over time. Once you’ve established that it’s a Federal decision on concealed carry, what do you do when a later administration decides to rewrite the same law to make it more restrictive? That’s pretty much what happend with drinking laws. The Feds decided that the minimum age to drink would be 21, and lo and behold it was. In spite of several states having less restrictive laws before that.
Now that you nationalize concealed carry laws, what about states like WV that issue handgun permits to those who are 18 or NH who doesn’t set a minimum age? Do they have to change their laws to comply with the national standard, which would presumably be 21?
Very slippery slope. I think Mr. Cain is right. It’s a state level decision.