Politics

Gun prohibitionists in panic mode over national CCW reciprocity

There is panic in the gun control lobby over national concealed carry reciprocity. (Dave Workman)

With the announcement that there are now 212 co-sponsors of H.R. 38, the proposed concealed carry reciprocity bill that has been gathering dust in Congress, there is increasing likelihood it could be debated soon, and that prospect is causing hysteria within the gun prohibition lobby.

The Seattle-based Alliance for Gun Responsibility sent an email blast that calls the measure a “dangerous gun lobby bill.”

No doubt this legislation will be discussed during next week’s 32nd annual Gun Rights Policy Conference in Dallas, Texas. This event is co-hosted by the Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. It will be held at the Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport hotel Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Attendance is free, including the annual Awards Luncheon on Sept. 30.

The weekend conference will feature panel discussions on all kinds of topical issues, including concealed carry.

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Moms Demand Action – another gun control group that is supported by anti-gun billionaire Michael Bloomberg – claims that the reciprocity legislation “would gut every state’s gun laws.”

But a careful look at the language of H.R. 38 belies that argument. The entire bill may be read here.

This is the language that appears to puncture the gun ban lobby’s hot air balloon:

“This section shall not be construed to supersede or limit the laws of any State that—

“(1) permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the possession of concealed firearms on their property; or

“(2) prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on any State or local government property, installation, building, base, or park.

This might be a good time to ask the gun prohibition lobby why its messages appear to misrepresent the legislation.

Concealed carry reciprocity is an idea whose time came long ago, proponents contend. When the Second Amendment was written, there were no prohibitions against crossing newly-created state lines with personal firearms, loaded and ready for defensive purposes. The great western migration that expanded the nation’s borders “from sea to shining sea” was accomplished by people who carried guns for subsistence and protection.

As has been previously reported, reciprocity might arguably have been an idea promoted by gun control proponents. They spent years arguing for “licensing” of gun owners. Common sense dictates that such licenses be uniformly recognized and honored, same as the drivers’ licenses they were supposed to emulate.

According to the National Rifle Association, Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) is the latest House member to sign on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 38, and that is a significant gain. Goodlatte chairs the House Judiciary Committee, where the legislation will almost certainly be heard, if and when it begins moving.

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