Posted on 05/14/2008 1:21:43 AM PDT by neverdem
www.gunowners.org/a051308.htm
May 2008
Senator David Vitter (R-LA) has filed a pro-gun amendment to HR 980, and it could be voted on as early as tomorrow!
This amendment would protect the right of citizens to carry concealed weapons (outside of their home state) in states that allow concealed carry.
Sen. Vitter explains that his amendment does not violate the rights of states as it "does NOT establish national standards for concealed carry, nor does it provide for a national carry permit."
In other words, the Vitter amendment specifically says that state laws concerning specific types of locations in which firearms may not be carried shall be followed. "My amendment will not federalize concealed carry permits but simply requires concealed carry permits to be recognized in other states that allow concealed carry permits," Vitter said.
This is a real reciprocity provision which grants citizens the "full faith and credit" protection that is guaranteed in Article IV of the Constitution.
Section 1 of this article says:
Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records, and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Vitter says that this constitutional provision authorizes the Congress to pass legislation forcing each state to recognize the "public Acts" of other states. So if states are not willing to recognize another state's laws, Congress has the authority to pass laws to require recognition of those measures.
It's just like with driver's licenses. If certain states refused to honor the driver's licenses of citizens in other states, Congress could pass legislation (under Article IV) to require every state to honor all licenses.
ACTION: Please urge your Senators to vote for the Vitter amendment to HR 980 to protect the right to carry concealed firearms outside of your home state.
You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center to send your Senators the pre-written e-mail message below. And, you can call your Senators at 202-224-3121 or toll-free at 1-877-762-8762.
Dear Senator:
Please support the Vitter amendment to HR 980. This amendment will protect the right of citizens to carry firearms outside of their home state without violating the rights of other states. Thus, the Vitter language masterfully protects the principle of federalism while also promoting Second Amendment rights.
A person's right to defend himself and his family should not end at the border of his state.
I urge you to vote for the Vitter concealed carry amendment.
Sincerely,
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Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Let Vitter redeem himself.
Good Move by Vitter but he is still a creep.
That’ll pass in a Rat Congress.
This has been around for years in one form or another. Senator Allen of Virginia sponsored one like it before he became ex-Senator Allen for making that macaca remark. If they were serious about passing it they should have done it while the GOP had both houses of congress and the White House. I don’t believe any bill like this has ever made it to a floor vote.
-—ditto—it’s election-year posturing.
Good Move by Vitter but he is still a creep.
I could not have sad it better. It will be a great day in America when this scum leaves the Senate.
But, how can we criticize Vitter, when we still have abominations like Barney Frank in govternment? At least Vitter is heterosexual, and he visited a hooker, he did not run a brothel out of his house, unlike Barney.
Good for him. Article IV, Section1 is a good argument in this case.
“It’s just like with driver’s licenses. If certain states refused to honor the driver’s licenses of citizens in other states, Congress could pass legislation (under Article IV) to require every state to honor all licenses.”
BUT: That cuts both ways. It COULD also be applied to recognizing gay marriages, if enough states and the congress are in the wrong hands.
that’d be a good argument for pro-2A people to use in blue states tho.
I haven’t followed any of this, but I agree with you. Given the current congress and the current state of the presidential race, it doesn’t have a snowball’s chance of even being considered.
Ergo, it’s just grandstanding. It would have meant something back in 2004, when the Republicans had some momentum, before they threw it away.
With McRino leading a thoroughly demoralized GOP, you need efforts like Vitters to remind folks why this won't pass in a Rat Congress.
Beat me to it,and gay marriage would only be the start.I shudder to think of what the rats would try with this usurpation of states` rights.
Is he trying to make LA like AK and VT?
Good luck to him.
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