Springfield, VA -(AmmoLand.com)- Some gun owners have argued that reciprocity legislation is unnecessary because the Second Amendment recognizes the right to carry wherever we want.
We agree that Americans have that right.
But sometimes a “right” — even a God-given right — needs a mechanism to enforce it against a politicized judiciary.
When Shaneen Allen was arrested in New Jersey for carrying a firearm with a Pennsylvania concealed carry license, the Garden State was flagrantly denying Shaneen’s rights and acting unconstitutionally.
Shaneen faced over a decade in prison — and was only exonerated when gun owners pressured Governor Chris Christie, whose presidential ambitions made him unusually receptive to our message.
So consider this: When you carry concealed in New York, New Jersey, California, or another state, the fact that you are “right” isn’t going to keep you from going to prison for decades — unless the Stutzman-Cornyn legislation is passed into law and forces these lawless states to comply.
This legislation is consistent with the Second and Fourteenth Amendments. The Supreme Court (correctly) ruled in McDonald v. Chicago (2010) that the Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms from federal AND state abuse.
That’s what the Stutzman-Cornyn bills do — they prevent anti-gun states from denying your right to carry concealed when you travel with your family out of state.
This is important legislation. Please urge your Representative and Senators to cosponsor H.R. 923 and S. 498.
In liberty,
Erich Pratt
Executive Director
Gun Owners of America
P.S. Please contact your Representative and Senators right away. And be looking for our legislative alerts in the mail over the next few weeks.
Gun Owners of America will be providing its members with postcards pushing concealed carry reciprocity. This is an important part of our legislative strategy, where we dump thousands upon thousands of postcards on legislators’ desks.
You can click here to start receiving those postcards and legislative updates.
About Gun Owners of America (GOA):
Gun Owners of America (GOA) is a non-profit lobbying organization formed in 1975 to preserve and defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. GOA sees firearms ownership as a freedom issue. `The only no comprise gun lobby in Washington’ – Ron Paul.
For more information, visit: www.gunowners.org.
In addition to school zones I would like to see concealed carry allowed in Post Offices.
RECIPROCITY laws mean the
CONSTITUTION is nothing more than TOILET PAPER.
At first blush, reciprocity ‘legislation’ may seem like a good idea – if one is oblivious to the history of the federal government. Every instance in which the feds have introduced their influence on rights, rights guaranteed by the Constitution, with even the most (theoretically) benevolent intent, the result has invariably been more regulation, tighter restrictions, less liberty. The Constitution itself, in Article IV. Section. 2 clearly states: “The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.” In the language of the era, that meant any citizen enjoyed the same… Read more »
Your post makes sense, in theory. However, it is far from reality. In reality, Congress has wither our Constitutional rights. SCOTUS has also diluted our Constitutional rights under various pretext such as safety, and reasonable limitations.
There are 3,143 counties and county-equivalents in the United States. Additionally, there are cities with more Second Amendment restrictions. I would rather fight one battle in Congress, than over 3,143 battles over the right to carry.
I believe H.R.986 and H.R.402 are better bills than the one mentioned in the article. Furthermore, H.R.986 and H.R.402 is a good start in the right direction.
I DO NOT support H.R. 923 or S. 498. Said bills do not help me. Instead they only help those that already have a CCW issued from their home state. I have an Arizona CCW which is good in thirty-something states, but NOT my home state of California. I live in Los Angeles County and the county Sheriff does not believe the Second Amendment is “good cause” to carry. So I can’t carry in California. I would rather support H.R.986 – Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015 or H.R.402 – National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015. Both of these bills… Read more »
OK, so will YOU be the first to get yourself arrested and incarcerated so you can test this legal remedy yourself? I thought not.
Sadly, I am represented by a Democrat Senator here in Oregon, and he’s already said that he’s not going to support the bill. He’s more concerned about protecting his turf, and not his constituents.
Federal law already covers this people… And it allows everyone who is persecuted to retaliate. Title 18, USC, Secs. 241 & 242 are the answers. 241 clearly states that ANYONE (govt. employees included) who conspires to violate anyone’s “secured” Constitutional liberties, is guilty of a felony punishable by ten years confinement. It further states that when anyone in detained in jail (kidnapped) or damaged in any way for simply exercising a “secured” right, that those responsible for damaging that individual can be fined, imprisoned for life, and/or put to death. This “code” makes it illegal for EVERY legislator that has… Read more »
B.Z., I am pretty sure that conspiracy does not include the legislative process, the POTUS signing a bill into “law”, or the judicial process. If a federal agent acts pursuant to his training, and federal law, even if that statute is later declared unconstitutional, that SA won’t get prosecuted. If the SA is sued, the Federal Tort Claims act will attach (i.e. remove the case to fed ct, defend the SA, and pay if the plaintiff is successful.) I think that you will find more of the answers that you seek in Bivins v Six Unknown Agents of the Federal… Read more »
Wild Bill, I understand what you’re saying all too well, but the fact remains that Marbury v. Madison states that any/every statute, code, regulation, executive order, et. al., or any part of it, that is repugnant to the U.S. Constitution’s guarantees, renders that entire “law” null and void. A government that knowingly passes unconstitutional “laws” that are in violation of their oaths is tyrannical and its members have committed the act of treason. They’ve become entrenched over the past century and knowingly violate OUR constitutionally “secured” liberties with impunity. This is proven by CA’s and other state’s blatant violations of… Read more »
BZ,
While I do not disagree with your sentiments, I am just saying that it would be a pity to miss the revolution by acting on your theories, now. Be patient and if the time comes, I’ll help you tie the hypothetical soetoro noose.
I agree reciprocity is a good thing. But the path to bad stuff is through the federal government.
Not just reciprocity, but amendment to the gun free school zone law so that a license issued in any state provides the same exception. Currently the exception is if your CCH/CCW is issued by the state where the school is located.
Title 18 922 (q)
While they are at it, lawful self-defense or defense of another should/must have the same exception that law enforcement officers have for line of duty in a school zone..