Posted on 07/19/2011 7:19:18 AM PDT by 2nd amendment mama
A leading supporter of gun rights in the Senate in an exclusive July 14 interview with Guns & Patriots that touched on many firearms issues made assurances that he will introduce a national concealed carry bill within weeks.
A new national concealed carry bill will be introduced within a matter of weeks, said Sen. John R. Thune, R-S.D., whose 2009 bill received 58 votes in the Senate, failing short of the 60-vote threshold required by Democratic parliamentary maneuvering.
A national concealed carry law would not only create a baseline right to carry a concealed firearm for all states, including Illinois, which is the only state without any procedure for concealed carry permits. The law would also create a framework for states to offer reciprocal recognition of concealed carry permits from other states.
Thune said he is now working with other senators, including Sen. David B. Vitter, R- La., who was a co-sponsor of the 2009 bill, and key Democrats, who have signaled their possible support.
The trick is that once the Democrats were confident his previous bill did not have 60 votes, they then allowed senators who needed a pro-gun vote for appearances voted for it, knowing it would not pass, he said.
One sticking point is how to handle the case of Vermont, he said. Vermont has no permit for concealed carry because it believes in the principle that it is not needed. This freedom is ideal, but what happens with someone from Vermont crosses into another state.
The senator said his bill will have a provision for Vermont, so that the national baseline does not hurt Vermonters, but taking away their current freedoms.
The current top gun-topic on Capitol Hill is the program by the Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to allow guns to pass through normal checks at both purchase points and at the Mexican border. Called Project Gun Runner, the program resulted in the shipment of hundreds of firearms to Mexican criminals that have been linked to dozens of robberies, kidnappings and murders—including the murder of two federal agents.
“I found out about Gun Runner the same way everyone else did,” Thune said.
“As some of the reporting came out, and some people began to talk about it, and it percolated to the surface we found out a lot of things about this project that people didn’t know about,” he said.
The South Dakotan, who is married with two daughters, said the key thing now is to get to the bottom of the matter, which is what is going on with the combined investigation led by Rep. Darrell E. Issa, R-Calif., and Sen. Charles E. “Chuck” Grassley,
“I commend Congressman Issa and Senator Grassley for pursuing an investigation to figure out how high up at the Justice Department this went—and for listening to the ATF whistle-blowers and to try to and try to determent the scope of this failed project,” he said.
Despite hearings and weeks of questions, the senator said he is still trying to get the basic answers, such as the names of the officials involved.
“If in fact we do find out that there were people who know about this and that there was complicity, an effort to try and keep people from finding out it, there ought to be some heads that roll over there,” he said.
“This clearly was a botched mission that was designed well, you know, I am not really clear what it was designed to do,” he said. “It was not effective and as a consequence, and some people have been killed.”
Thune said he was heartened by the cooperation by Acting Director Kenneth E. Melson. “I hope that that continues, and I hope that if there are any people who were working in any degree to keep this from making it out into the public domain that will be exposed as well and that they will be held accountable.”
“You look at the consequences of this and what’s going on south of the border, and the risk it puts our own law enforcement agents,” he said.
“It’s absolutely wrong and it needs to be exposed,” he said.
Another area of frustration for Thune, is the administration's haphazard rule-making , he said. One example is the effort by the government of South Korean to sell excess M-1 Garand rifles to Americans.
The administration approved the sale, and then withdrew permission without explanation, he said.
Thune said is very upset with the BATFE’s new rule requiring federally licensed gun sellers in states that border Mexico to report any multiple sales of rifles to the same individual within a five-business-day period.
“I have been active in this issue since January—and actively objecting that they proceed with this rule,” he said. In February, Thune and other senators signed a letter to the BATFE protesting that the rule itself was a violation of federal that that specifically allows for the reporting of handgun and revolvers purchases and not long rifles.
“This is a fundamental violation of the certified gun dealer’s rights,” he said.
Furthermore, in light of the Gun Runner debacle, there is some question if the BATFE has the ability to keep track of these weapons and individuals, even if they receive the report, he said.
“This goes above and beyond anything Congress is in favor of, and this final rule is really an overreach,” he said. “We hope to get some response back, but so far, they seem intent on moving forward.”
The senator, who is a married with two daughters, said he will continue to inveigh against the rule and its enforcement. “We need to get to the bottom of this.
As the tired old analogy that free speech doesn't give one the right to shout 'fire!' in a crowded theater means that free speech can be regulated, for better or worse (worse IMHO) the Supreme Court ruled in Heller v DC that the 2nd Amendment is not an 'absolute' right and can also be regulated.
Likewise, the manner in which the 2nd Amendment is exercised can also be regulated, both with regards to concealment and with regards to what sort of weapon may be kept and borne.
I agree.
The right to carry concealed is something I have to jump through hoops for in MA. And, as of yet, my local police chief doesn’t think I am worthy of the unrestricted Class A LTC.
Since 90% of my work time is spent on college campuses, it would be pretty much moot to start with, it is not something I am fighting. Every year, I make another, respectable, application. They want me to spend another $800 on a CCW class. I think that is prohibitive.
The federal government does not have the power to “allow” people to carry concealed arms. That is a God-given natural right that nobody in government may take away without due process of law.
This is a law we do not and should not need. It’s probably also a stealth registry disguised as a national standard. Never trust the government.
As the tired old analogy that free speech doesn’t give one the right to shout ‘fire!’ in a crowded theater means that free speech can be regulated, that regulation cannot include licensing tongues, arrest for speaking (at all) without a permit, limiting amplification capabilities (not use, just capability) of PA systems, arrest for unlicensed possession (not use, just possession) of concealable communication devices, etc.
Likewise, the manner in which the 2ndA may be Constitutionally regulated is limited to unjustified threatening, risk, or harm done, and equipment or usage which has undue inherent risk (may explode and harm user, unapproved possession in prisons, firing may ignite & destroy chemical/munitions factory, etc.).
Only argument favoring CCW licensing is at time of enumeration of 2ndA, concealed possession was considered presumptive evidence of ill intent; either impose minimal “good guy” licensing requirements, or reverse intense social opposition to allowing unlicensed open carry.
I’m rereading Unintended Consequences now. Unbelievable what has happened.
It is not up to govenment or the courts to change social perceptions, but the Supreme Court in Heller did specifically lay the questions of if, when, and how for concealed weapons at the doorstep of the individual States.
Which brings us back to the subject of this thread, Congress making general laws to observe CCW reciprocity as part of full faith and credit.
I’d prefer the government to peel back federal anti-gun legislation in reverse chronological order.
FOPA, GCA, NFA, anything else I don’t know about.
I wasn’t being sarcastic at all, I meant it and I will.
I am very pro 2A, so much so that I would like to be able to protect myself in every state, including the Socialist Republic of California when I am traveling.
There is no background check on citizen to citizen firearms purchases.
Most states require citizen to citizen firearms purchases to go through an FFL, not all mind you it does vary, but it is becoming more restrictive (not that I agree with that, I don’t).
Agreed.
I can’t get excited about well intended law makers requiring a license to exercise a Constitutionally ennumerated right.
Just waiting for the spark. At this point, everyone who cares and is capable still has too much to lose.
Not true. Most don’t.
Tell that to my lawyers in 4 different states who researched it for me.
He ought to press for amending the 1968 Firearms Act so that ANY CCW in one state could get a firearm (long and short) delivered to his house. A first “peel the artichoke”* move would allow a handgun to be shipped to any state’s FFL.
*Old East German quote on how the Reds operated back then - peel one leaf at a time from the artichoke until nothing remains.
SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.
Now, we just need to get back to it.
“I’ll let you see my Alaska Conceal Carry Permit.”
;)
I'll show you mine from MA. No other state recognizes it. I wonder why...
I disagree with National Concealed Carry - would you want someone like Eric Holder having a list of all the gun owners in the country???
Bingo!
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