Posted on 07/29/2009 1:14:55 PM PDT by neverdem
Have a concealed weapon permit? If you're traveling across state lines, you might want to leave your weapon home.
Gun owners allowed to carry a concealed weapons in their home states can't legally carry them across state lines despite the efforts of Sen. John Thune.
Thune introduced legislation that would have allowed the legal transport of concealed weapons across state lines - provided the gun owner followed state laws concerning weapons.
Thune garnered decent support for the legislation including that of Sen. Tim Johnson.
It was a common sense bill defeated by an emotional argument. In truth, if a gun owner follows the law of each state, he or she should be allowed to carry a concealed weapon across state lines without having to do so illegally.
"An individual should be able to exercise their 2nd Amendment constitutional right and be able to travel through individual states," Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) was quoted as saying in the Los Angeles times. Thune, the Times reports, "added that under the bill, a gun owner would have been required to abide by the laws of the host state, including following any restrictions on where concealed weapons can be carried."
We agree with Thune: An individual should be able to carry a concealed weapon legally provided he or she is respecting the laws of each state.
Several gun control groups said the legislation would "dramatically weaken" state concealed weapons laws and arm criminals. That argument hinges on the fact that different states have enacted different concealed weapons laws. For instance, in Los Angeles County, permit holders are required to complete a training course but in Mississippi, none is required. Theoretically a person could get a permit in Mississippi and use it in LA, where higher standards for concealed weapons are required.
We're not opposed to higher and more consistent standards for concealed weapons permits. Consistency would, in theory, make opposition to the Thune bill irrelevant. There's a good argument to be heard that raising standards across the board to the highest level would open borders and respect state's rights at the same time.
But in the absence of consistent standards, there's no reason law-abiding concealed weapons permit holders should become lawbreakers when crossing state lines.
While I support national recognition of our concealed carry rights, the above statement is inaccurate.
While it is illegal to carry across SOME State lines with only a permit from your home state, many states have cooperated with eachother and ratified reciprocity agreements between and amongst themselves. And at least one State, Indiana, recognizes concealed carry permits from ALL other States that issue them.
Does anyone remember “congress shall make no law” in the good ole days?
I can drive legally throughout most of the Western States with my WA permit.
While I support national recognition of our concealed carry rights, the above statement is inaccurate.
While it is illegal to carry across SOME State lines with only a permit from your home state, many states have cooperated with eachother and ratified reciprocity agreements between and amongst themselves. And at least one State, Indiana, recognizes concealed carry permits from ALL other States that issue them.
It would be true if they qualified it by saying some or all state lines. Their heart was in the right place. Their omission is not a mortal sin.
I’ll take my chances with being tried by 12 than carried by 6.
“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.”
Seems pretty clear to me. But then, so does “...shall not be infringed...”
“Gun owners allowed to carry a concealed weapons in their home states can’t legally carry them across state lines “
Bull!
You just have to do your homework to know which states have reciprocal agreements!
Wrong.
Less than 5 minutes of research will inform you on which states have reciprocity agreements with yours...
Just yesterday, my wife and I were discussing where to go on our fall vacation. I checked the list of states with reciprocity with South Carolina and Louisiana was on the list.
Let's see.... I've always wanted to go there, they will let me carry my weapon, AND they had the good sense to elect Bobby Jindal...
Yep, I KNOW where we are going to spend our vacation money.
I have permits from my home state and Utah and am legal in, I think, 35 states mostly due to reciprocity with the Utah permit.
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