Posted on 02/06/2007 8:59:51 AM PST by kiriath_jearim
Firearms are a historic part of the culture and traditions of South Dakota and our great nation. However, each year, our Second Amendment rights are being threatened and chipped away by activists who unfairly attempt to lay blame for illegal violence and recklessness on law-abiding gun owners.
In Congress I have been committed to working to implement policies that protect and strengthen Second Amendment rights for law-abiding citizens.
In 2005, we were able to secure a major victory for firearms owners, retailers and manufacturers by passing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a bill I cosponsored. This legislation was signed into law and now provides liability protection against frivolous lawsuits to law-abiding gun makers and retailers throughout the nation.
I've recently introduced legislation that would make it possible for South Dakotans with lawful concealed weapon permits to carry their weapon when traveling into other states across the country. As it stands, only certain states have reciprocity agreements with each other. Currently, the state of South Dakota recognizes all states' concealed weapon permits, while only 20 states recognize South Dakota's permit. This checkerboard of reciprocity agreements poses several obstacles and challenges for South Dakotans who wish to protect themselves as they travel to or through a state that does not have reciprocity with our state.
For example, many truck drivers in South Dakota travel to urban areas in other states, where they are more vulnerable to crime, and yet often are prohibited from carrying a firearm to protect themselves because a state they are traveling to or through does not have reciprocity with South Dakota. This patchwork effectively diminishes a law-abiding gun owner of his or her Constitutional rights under the Second Amendment.
I believe that law-abiding citizens have a right to arm themselves in order to defend themselves against the threat of violence. My bill would make it possible for every state's concealed weapon permit to be recognized by all other states, much like states recognize other state driver's licenses. For states that issue concealed weapon permits, those states' prohibitions on where a weapon may be carried would still apply. For the two states that do not issue concealed weapon permits (Wisconsin and Illinois), my bill would prohibit concealed weapons from being carried in places such as courthouses, public schools, and bars, among other places.
I've teamed up with Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska on this bill, and we're working to gather more support. So far, we have a bipartisan group of 18 other cosponsors. This is a commonsense bill that will strengthen public safety, and I will work hard to gain support to pass this legislation in Congress to help guarantee our freedom to bear arms.
Excellent. All aspects of the Constitution must be protected from those that would take our rights and freedoms to protect ourselves.
.... In 2005, we were able to secure a major victory for firearms owners, retailers and manufacturers by passing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, a bill I cosponsored. This legislation was signed into law and now provides liability protection against frivolous lawsuits to law-abiding gun makers and retailers throughout the nation.....
^^^ That was good legislation.
If Giuliani (D-NY) gets his way, guns might become illegal to have in all 50 states. We have to make sure that legislation such as above is protected, especially considering the invasion of illegals and criminal 3rd worlders coming from south of the border.
--unfortunately, the proposed legislation has about as much chance as does a smaller federal budget--
Let's see...which party controls what bills make it to the floor? There'll be ice skating in Hell before the Rats let this bill see the light of day.
On the one hand, I like this law, because it throws mud at the face of socialist states such as California, Hawaii, New York, etc, that discretionarilly issues CCW licences, mostly to politically connected celebrities. If this bill becomes law, these states would have to honor other states' CCW permits.
On the other hand, I hate this law, because it removes powers from the state legislatures.
Being that I'm trapped in the People's Republic of Kaulifornia, which discretionarilly issues CCW, I like this law. I should be able to go and get a Nevada, Florida, or Washington state CCW permit, and be able to carry in my home state.
If this actually happened you would probably see secession movements start up in NY, Hawaii and California.
Damn, where's the downside again?
Sounds reasonable to me.
Aren't they putting a band-aid on a sucking chest wound here?
Rudy was the one Republican among big-city mayors who sued gun makers in 2000 - an action which was a leading cause of this legislation.
Thune is also an active elk hunter, having hunted the area south of the Elk Mountain game preserve back around 2000 or so, back before 09/11.
Permits to carry are a tax on gun owners and unconstituional - against the 2nd and 4th amendment. Allows a state to keep a database.
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