Return to “SB 16 - priority bill, reduction of LTC fees”
Charles L. Cotton wrote:No. There's nothing more fundamental to our form of government than the right to vote. There's no fee to vote, but one must register to vote and a background check is done before issuing the voter registration card and putting you on the eligible voter role. (Convicted felons cannot vote.) I think this should be the procedure for getting an LTC.Scott Farkus wrote:Agreed, and I'm not arguing for or against constitutional carry because I understand the political realities, but isn't that very close to an argument for constitutional carry?Charles L. Cotton wrote:I understand your point, but we are dealing with a constitutional right. If the Legislature feels that the licensing law should exist for public safety reasons, then the cost should be born by the general public. The cost of voter registration is born by the public and voting is also a constitutional right.
Chas.
People have taken to the term "constitutional carry" for political reasons, but the SCOTUS has stated in Heller that licensing is constitutional. Yes, it was dicta, but I don't see a future court striking down all licensing statutes.
My opinion on the state shouldering the cost of the background check, issuing the license, etc. is not limited to LTCs. I think the cost of any procedural requirement placed on citizens should be paid by the state, when the motive for the procedure is public safety. If the population as a whole benefits, then the population should bear the cost.
Chas.
I agree with you this is like a poll tax. So are other hindrances like taxes and fingerprint fees and other hurdles that some states even put up for buying a gun. While I'm more anxious to see fewer gun free zones, this bill is still a step toward making a constitutional right easier to exercise. Especially helpful for law abiding poor people. That's why I don't want to "common sense reforms" like universal background checks. This is really a forcing mechanism to start pushing all sales through FFL. Leftists don't like intrastate sales between private individuals, because they are cheap and anonymous.mr1337 wrote:Of course, this bill doesn't impact most of us as much as it impacts those who don't have their LTC yet and don't have a lot of money to get their LTC. High fees impacts low class families in their ability to exercise their rights. (Poll tax, anyone?) I ultimately want to see both the elimination of gun free zones and the reduction/elimination of LTC fees, but this will get more people on our side to help push future legislative goals.
If I were given a choice between the two, I would still choose elimination of gun free zones, but this one isn't that far behind. Hopefully we won't have to choose and get the best of both worlds.