My petition a couple of years ago to get reciprocity between states for gun rights did not succeed. But now there is a new proposal with a similar aim. A friend of mine recently sent an e-mail about House of Representatives Bill 822, which will do much to correct inconsistencies between states and within those that have little respect for the fair application of the right to self-defense. I would urge those interested to read more here http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Federal/Read.aspx?id=7044 and to write your elected representatives regarding this issue. Here is a copy of the main text of the letter I sent to my congressman and senators:
I am writing in support of HR 822, The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011. The right of peaceful people to carry weapons to defend against society's violent predators is a basic human right. However, despite this right being upheld by the Supreme court, there are several states and municipalities that seem to find that respecting this right is too much of an inconvenience. They will allow the powerful and well connected to defend their own lives, but seem to think that the vast majority should blindly trust government officials to protect them. Perhaps if ordinary adults gave police, prosecutors, and their supervisors the power our parents had over us when we were infants, they would provide the same protection our parents did then. I am skeptical about this, though, and in any case do not see it as the best way to maintain a free society. As such, I support H.R. 822 which will compel states and cities that allow their elites to protect themselves from violence to allow the vast majority of their citizens to do the same.
I would also urge you to read (or re-read) the NRA's factsheet regarding this issue. In addition to the fundamental right to self-defense that I have already stated there are two points I find especially worthy of note:
• States with right-to-carry laws have lower violent crime rates.
and
• Crime declines in states with right-to-carry laws.
http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactSheets/Read.aspx?id=189&issue=003
Posts
1 comment:
This bill does not create a requirement for states to allow concealed carry. I think this is important from the states' rights perspective.
Instead, it requires states which do issue permits to recognize those issued in other states. The problem is that there are states (New Jersey and Maryland are ones I'm aware of) that have a permitting process on paper but only the well-connected ever manage to get one. Here's the story from a NJ attorney who specializes in firearms issues:
http://njgunpermitattorney.com/carry-permits/
If this legislation passes, states like this will either get concealed carry via other states which issue permits to non-residents, or be forced to end the lie and stop issuing permits altogether. The actual legislation is here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr822ih/pdf/BILLS-112hr822ih.pdf
Post a Comment