The Stearns/Boucher Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill

[Drtop]

Right-To-Carry
The Stearns/Boucher Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill

H.R. 861 and S. 388, introduced in the U.S. House by Representatives Cliff Stearns’ (R-Fla.) and Rich Boucher (D-Va.), and in the U.S> Senate by Senators John Thune R-S.D., and Ben Nelson, D-Neb. would allow any person with a valid concealed firearm carrying permit or license, issued by a state, to carry a concealed firearm in any state, as follows: In states that issue concealed firearm permits, a state’s laws governing where concealed firearms may be carried would apply within its borders. In states that do not issue carry permits, a federal "bright-line" standard would permit carrying in places other than police stations; courthouses; public polling places; meetings of state, county, or municipal governing bodies; schools; passenger areas of airports; and certain other locations. The bill applies to D.C., Puerto Rico and U.S. territories. It would not create a federal licensing system; it would require the states to recognize each others’ carry permits, just as they recognize drivers’ licenses and carry permits held by armored car guards. Rep. Stearns has introduced such legislation since 1995.

• Today, 48 states have laws permitting concealed carry, in some circumstances. Forty states, accounting for two-thirds of the U.S. population, have RTC laws. Thirty-six have "shall issue" permit laws (including Alaska, which also allows carrying without a permit), three have fairly administered "discretionary issue" permit laws, and Vermont (and Alaska) allow carrying without a permit. (Eight states have restrictive discretionary issue laws.) Most RTC states have adopted their laws in the last decade.

• Citizens with carry permits are more law-abiding than the general public. Only 0.01% of nearly 1.2 million permits issued by Florida have been revoked because of firearm crimes by permit holders. Similarly low percentages of permits have been revoked in Texas, Virginia, and other RTC states that keep such statistics. RTC is widely supported by law enforcement officials and groups.

• States with RTC laws have lower violent crime rates. On average, 22% lower total violent crime, 30% lower murder, 46% lower robbery, and 12% lower aggravated assault, compared to the rest of the country. The seven states with the lowest violent crime rates are RTC states. (Data: FBI.)

• Crime declines in states with RTC laws. Since adopting RTC in 1987, Florida’s total violent crime and murder rates have dropped 32% and 58%, respectively. Texas’ violent crime and murder rates have dropped 20% and 31%, respectively, since its 1996 RTC law. (Data: FBI.)

• The right of self-defense is fundamental, and has been recognized in law for centuries. The Declaration of Independence asserts that "life" is among the unalienable rights of all people. The Second Amendment guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms for "security."

• The laws of all states and constitutions of most states recognize the right to use force in self-defense. The Supreme Court has stated that a person "may repel force by force" in self-defense, and is "entitled to stand his ground and meet any attack made upon him with a deadly weapon, in such a way and with such force" as needed to prevent "great bodily injury or death." (Beard v. U.S., 1895)

• Congress affirmed the right to guns for "protective purposes" in the Gun Control Act (1968) and Firearm Owners’ Protection Act (1986). In 1982, the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution described the right to arms as "a right of the individual citizen to privately possess and carry in a peaceful manner firearms and similar arms."


Posted: 4/26/2007 12:00:00 AM

[YankeeDog]

Real good stuff in this law. keep you Congressman and Senators apprised of you feelings.
YD

[shrike5000]

Sounds good to me. With the congress we have now, we'd have to do a lot of supporting, so I'm in.

[maldos]

This will most certainly meet with firm opposition especially in California and Hawaii. Can you imagine San Francisco having to accept this?

Maldos

[Bombard]

Originally Posted by maldos

This will most certainly meet with firm opposition especially in California and Hawaii. Can you imagine San Francisco having to accept this?

Maldos

They'd succeed first.

(yeah, I know, that's a feature, not a bug.)

[Yellowfin]

All the more reason it needs to be done. San Francisco, LA, DC, Chicago, and Boston all need to have this shoved in their face and forced to smell it till they like it. They need to start acting like America for a change.

[NikNak]

Originally Posted by Bombard

They'd succeed first.

(yeah, I know, that's a feature, not a bug.)

We can only hope ....

[tango-52]

Originally Posted by Bombard

They'd succeed first.

I believe you mean secede as in become a separate independent country, not succeed as in be successful. Or did you mean suck seed?

[xd675]

on it here in PA, I also have post cards I received from GOA that I'm sending out as well. I'd love to pack in both PA and back home!

[Drtop]

I think we should all ask our representatives to co-sponsor HR681. The more sponsor it has teh higher teh profile will be. If you don't see you reprentative on the list below give him/her a call or note and ask why they aren't supporting. I am!

Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress)

Thanks,

Dr. Top

[RAD-G27]

Originally Posted by maldos

This will most certainly meet with firm opposition especially in California and Hawaii. Can you imagine San Francisco having to accept this?

Maldos

Or NY, NJ, DC or MA?? It does depend on the wording, a CCW from any state is honored in all states or a CCW from your home state is honored in all states. The latter would still not help those of us in SF, Alameda, Contra Costa and LA counties.

[OCRancher]

Originally Posted by RAD-G27

Or NY, NJ, DC or MA?? It does depend on the wording, a CCW from any state is honored in all states or a CCW from your home state is honored in all states. The latter would still not help those of us in SF, Alameda, Contra Costa and LA counties.

In a hopeful way, it will. How will the local government feel and respond when they know/find out that out of state people have the legal right to CCW in their areas and their own constituents cannot? And then get asked about it? (from their voters) My guess is a few will stick to the anti thing, but many will vote CCW reform.