Federal Concealed Carry Bill Introduced

[DaveT]

Don't know if everyone here that carrys concealed has seen this, but it is very important to those of us that do:

Virginia Senator George Allen, former Governor, has introduced legislation (SB. 3275) in the United States Senate that would require all states to honor all permits.

We all need to contact our Senators and urge them to get behind this !

The Anti's are already aware of it, here's a press release from the one of their groups:

http://www.gunguys.com/#post-1143

NRA Senators Quietly Announce CCW Bill in Congress
Finally today, we don’t meant to ruin your Friday afternoon, but the NRA has yet another initiative planned in our nation’s Congress– they want to make it so that if you can carry a concealed weapon in one state, you can carry it anywhere.

Flying under the radar with all the immigration hubbub in the Senate last week was a charming piece of legislation by Senator George Allen (R-VA) that would allow people licensed to carry a concealed weapon in one state to enjoy the same privilege anywhere else in the country.

S. 3275, which is cosponsored by 12 Senators — all Republicans, except for GOP-lite Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska — would make it a law that “… nonresidents of a State may carry concealed firearms in the State� if they are permitted to carry their gun elsewhere. Allen’s measure is a companion bill to H.R. 4547, introduced in the House of Representatives in December for the same purpose.

“The bill would simply require States to recognize each other’s concealed carry permits and licenses, just as they recognize drivers’ licenses,� said Allen in introducing his bill last week, proclaiming that his legislation would “… increase the safety of the many law-abiding Americans who have chosen to carry a firearm for protection against criminal attack.�

Yeah, that’s what we want: States that had the bad judgment to overwhelming vote for George W. Bush again in 2004 sending their heavily-armed, backwoods brethren to New York City, Chicago and San Francisco. Sounds like a real smart idea and, of course, federal legislation would then make it all but impossible for the more enlightened states to keep from being turned into 1870s Deadwood.

Smell that sarcasm? That’s definitely not what we want. Concealed weapons are still banned in a few states, and even some states that haven’t banned them still don’t honor other states’ permits. The reason? Some citizens want concealed weapons, most don’t. A law like this would basically mandate the presence of concealed weapons anywhere. And not only does that infringe upon states’ rights to determine where and when concealed weapons are legal, it also infringes on the safety of those states’ citizens. Because as everyone but the gun guys seems to know, a weapon, with or without permit, represents nothing but a threat to everyone around it.

Indeed, of the $1.6 million in donations made to Senators or Senate candidates from this particular NRA PAC, almost $400,000, or an astounding 26 percent of the money, went to just nine of the Republicans authoring or cosponsoring the Allen bill. And this, just one facet of NRA contributions, is undoubtedly just the tip of the iceberg.

In a laughable attempt to protect the states that do not readily allow their citizens to walk the streets packing heat, the House bill’s language stipulates that the gun holder may not, in such a state “…carry a concealed firearm in a police station, in a public detention facility, in a courthouse, in a public polling place, at a meeting of a State, county, or municipal governing body, in a school, at a professional or school athletic event not related to firearms, in a portion of an establishment licensed by the State to dispense alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises, or inside the sterile or passenger area of an airport.�

Isn’t it nice to know that, with those restrictions in place, one of these folks will have to wait outside the bar to shoot you?

And one sure-fire way to tell that a U.S. Senator isn’t particularly proud of putting their name to a piece of legislation is if there’s no mention of it in the press-release section of their official web site. The bill’s primary sponsor, Senator Allen, doesn’t mention it. And none of the other 12 sponsors of the legislation say one word about their involvement with the bill in their press releases.

So even the clouty Senators behind this bill realize it’s a sham and a slap in the face to the safety of citizens of these states! If concealed guns aren’t safe in those places listed, why are they safe anywhere?!? This bill is bunk– it’s a blatant piece of NRA legislation. It pushes their selfish agenda, and costs Americans their safety.

Lest you think the concealed-weapon measure is too insignificant for Senators to include in their announcements, it’s important to understand that members of Congress use every opportunity to brag about their legislative feats — unless they truly want them to pass under cover of darkness. While there’s no mention of S. 3275 on John Sununu’s (R-NH) web site, he’s proud to announce “Sununu backs legislation to eliminate ethanol import tariff.�

Michael Crapo and Larry Craig, both Republicans from Idaho, won’t mention the gun bill but grandly announce “Crapo Introduces Forest Service Partnership Bill� and “Craig Introduces Specialty Crop Bill.�

Bottom line: This legislation is payback to the NRA and it’s so obvious, and such bad public policy, that the Senators don’t even bother to announce it to constituents, many of whom might even be NRA members.

Sad. Sad for them, sadder for the people that this bill will endanger. Hopefully we’ll have better news for you about this as it goes along. Stay tuned

[kw5kw]

...It would be nice if it got through and signed, but I doubt it will. That bill is a very big long-shot

This bill is needed to force states to respect the rights of each and every citizen to posess firearms.

[kw5kw]

I have sent the following e-mail to Mrs. Hutchinson and Mr. Cronyn:
(http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_i ... m?State=TX)

I wish to convey my wishes to you on a certain bill, that was just read before the Senate and I wish for you to consider backing this bill and becomming a sponser of this bill.

The bill in question is: S.3275 (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:S3275:)

This bill is of concern to me as a proud Texas CHL holder. As a CHL holder I've had to pass an extensive background check and be cleared by the Texas Department of Public Safety. I would like to think that this examination of my past qualifies me as a loyal law-abiding American citizen.

I am also a "ham"-radio licensee (KW5KW) and offer communications for emergency situations. If I desire to go and offer communications in other states after disasters, I prefer to take my weapon with me. I do this for the following two reasons:

1) Wild animals are terrified after such disasters and often attack one doing relief help. Handguns offer a defense against such attacks.

2) We all saw looting going on in New Orleans after Katrina. If I'm in an area offering aid to victims, and an armed gang comes down the road wanting my vehicle, I should have the right to defend my person and the person that I'm offering aid to. Handguns offer me such a defense.

I thank you for you consideration in this manner.

I am your constituent,
Russell Stringfield
Texas CHL holder; a.r.s. KW5KW
Fort Worth, TX. 76116

[Venus Pax]

Since I don't do radio things like kw5kw, I sent the following very simple e-mail:

I am writing concerning the bill S.3275

This bill is of concern to me as a CHL holder in Texas. As I am sure you are aware, any given Texas CHL holder has NO felony convictions on his/her record, has had no class A or B misdemeanors in the past five years, and is not chemically dependent or mentally incapable.

I believe that all CHL holders, as proven law-abiding citizens, should have the right to travel from state to state with their handguns without risk of charges being pressed.

I encourage you to back and even sponsor this bill.

Thank you for your consideration.

Your constituent,

[carlson1]

My letters are in the mail this afternoon! It is about time!

[ElGato]

[their heavily-armed, backwoods brethren ]

Yep, I admit it, that's me the're talkin about.

an proud of it

[longtooth]

And a bunch more of us.

[Diode]

E-mails sent

[flintknapper]

[their heavily-armed, backwoods brethren ]

Yep, I admit it, that's me the're talkin about.

an proud of it

Thats the one part they got right!

[Photoman]

[their heavily-armed, backwoods brethren ]

Yep, I admit it, that's me the're talkin about.

an proud of it

Thats the one part they got right!

Don't forget...we're "charming" too!

Shucks, I haven't been called charming since I wore short pants.

[1TallTXn]

wow, it must hurt these people to open their eyes! cause apparently they've been closed for a long time!

[GrannyGlock]

Sen Allan, George,(Va)

Sen Burns, Conrad R. [MT] - 6/5/2006
Sen Burr, Richard [NC] - 5/26/2006
Sen Craig, Larry E. [ID] - 5/26/2006
Sen Crapo, Mike [ID] - 5/26/2006
Sen Dole, Elizabeth [NC] - 5/26/2006
Sen Ensign, John [NV] - 5/26/2006
Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK] - 5/26/2006
Sen Lott, Trent [MS] - 5/26/2006
Sen Martinez, Mel [FL] - 5/26/2006
Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] - 5/26/2006
Sen Sununu, John E. [NH] - 5/26/2006
Sen Thune, John [SD] - 5/26/2006
Sen Vitter, David [LA] - 5/26/2006

This is the list of brave Senators that are co-sponsoring the bill. I wonder why our guy and gal are not on the list.

[jimlongley]

I may have to go find some woods to be heavily armed in, but I will send my letters to our dear and glorious Senators when I get back into town.

de K5NRA

[Diode]

Sen Allan, George,(Va)

Sen Burns, Conrad R. [MT] - 6/5/2006
Sen Burr, Richard [NC] - 5/26/2006
Sen Craig, Larry E. [ID] - 5/26/2006
Sen Crapo, Mike [ID] - 5/26/2006
Sen Dole, Elizabeth [NC] - 5/26/2006
Sen Ensign, John [NV] - 5/26/2006
Sen Inhofe, James M. [OK] - 5/26/2006
Sen Lott, Trent [MS] - 5/26/2006
Sen Martinez, Mel [FL] - 5/26/2006
Sen Nelson, E. Benjamin [NE] - 5/26/2006
Sen Sununu, John E. [NH] - 5/26/2006
Sen Thune, John [SD] - 5/26/2006
Sen Vitter, David [LA] - 5/26/2006

This is the list of brave Senators that are co-sponsoring the bill. I wonder why our guy and gal are not on the list.

Good question, does anyone follow their voting enough to know how they act on such matters?