U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)- The Washington Examiner published an op-ed by Tim Schmidt, president and founder of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), which provides self-defense education and training to more than 550,000 responsible American gun owners. In the last year alone, over 2,000 new USCCA instructors have also joined the ranks of 7,000 certified USCCA instructors across the country, coinciding with record U.S. gun sales in 2020.
In his op-ed, Schmidt highlights the need for passage of H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, introduced last month by U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) to protect the right to self-protection for millions of law-abiding Americans, including Members of Congress, when they are traveling across state lines.
Key Excerpts:
- “After a mob of rioters breached the doors of the U.S. Capitol, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace likely spoke for many members of Congress in describing the feeling of defenselessness… Just days before this attack on the Capitol, another newly elected congresswoman, Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, was warned by the D.C. police against trying to protect herself while working in Washington by carrying a concealed weapon.”
- “What all of this brings to light is a lesson that should have been learned after the 2017 shooting of House Republican Minority Whip Steve Scalise. It’s a reminder that our massive patchwork of state and local concealed carry laws puts not only elected officials but all people at risk… Virginia, where the shooting happened, has reciprocity for some states’ concealed carry permits, but if members had brought their guns back and forth from D.C., they would have broken the law. As a result, none were able to protect themselves, and it was only because Scalise is a member of House leadership that Capitol Police officers were present to save lives.”
- “Bottom line: It should never be a crime to be responsibly prepared to defend yourself in any possible situation. Richard Hudson, a Republican from North Carolina, recently introduced H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would allow legal gun owners and concealed carry permit holders nationwide to arm themselves responsibly no matter where they are.”
Below is a link and full text of the Op-Ed:
Members of Congress and the public should be allowed to protect themselves at all times
Washington Examiner, February 11, 2021
By Tim Schmidt, president and founder of U.S. Concealed Carry Association
After a mob of rioters breached the doors of the U.S. Capitol, South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace likely spoke for many members of Congress in describing the feeling of defenselessness. In an interview with a local media outlet, the Republican congresswoman said, “I felt personally like a sitting duck … We didn’t have a way to protect ourselves; we didn’t have security on us; we didn’t have firearms protecting us.” Mace added that she is currently going through the process to obtain her concealed weapons permit.
Mace is not alone. Just days before this attack on the Capitol, another newly elected congresswoman, Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican from Colorado, was warned by the D.C. police against trying to protect herself while working in Washington by carrying a concealed weapon. In other words, if you’re walking to your home or car on a darkened street outside of your home state or facing threats from political extremists on either side, the message is, “Good luck. You’re on your own.”
What all of this brings to light is a lesson that should have been learned after the 2017 shooting of House Republican Minority Whip Steve Scalise. It’s a reminder that our massive patchwork of state and local concealed carry laws puts not only elected officials but all people at risk.
It is time for there to be national reciprocity for concealed carry permits, similar to what we already do for state driver’s licenses. Consider, for example, that if it had not been for the presence and heroism of two Capitol Police officers at that Alexandria, Virginia, baseball field on June 14, 2017, there could have been more injuries and even deaths among the members of Congress present that morning.
Virginia, where the shooting happened, has reciprocity for some states’ concealed carry permits, but if members had brought their guns back and forth from D.C., they would have broken the law. As a result, none were able to protect themselves, and it was only because Scalise is a member of House leadership that Capitol Police officers were present to save lives.
Bottom line: It should never be a crime to be responsibly prepared to defend yourself in any possible situation. Rep. Richard Hudson, a Republican from North Carolina, recently introduced H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would allow legal gun owners and concealed carry permit holders nationwide to arm themselves responsibly no matter where they are.
This legislation is particularly critical when you consider that last year alone, nearly 5 million new gun owners joined the 100 million-plus gun owners already in the U.S. Demand for firearm safety and training courses has surged as well. At the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, we now have more than 540,000 members and saw more than a 100% increase last year for education and training.
Also consider that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are forgoing air travel and often traveling long distances by car with their families. In doing so, they are oftentimes left defenseless, as are their families, because of the legal threat of crossing state lines into a jurisdiction where their permit may not be recognized.
Responsible gun owners are people who have already proven they are willing to comply with the law by fulfilling all of the requirements associated with obtaining a firearm and a concealed carry permit. Further, no one deserves to be violently targeted simply for going to work, no matter which side of the political spectrum a lawmaker falls on. Whether it’s a family visiting relatives across state lines, a business owner traveling for work, or a single mother who lives in a community bordering a neighboring state, all should have the right to protect themselves and their families at all times.
A long-overdue reform to concealed carry laws will give already law-abiding citizens, including members of Congress, the ability to protect themselves from those who would seek to do them harm. It’s time to pass national concealed carry reciprocity.
About the USCCA
The US Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) is an association of responsible armed Americans whose members get exceptional self-defense education, lifesaving training, and self-defense liability insurance, preparing them for them for the before, during and after of a lawful act of self-defense. Headquartered in West Bend, WI, the USCCA is the largest, fastest-growing self-defense association dedicated to responsible gun owners.
Permits are infringement.
I agree, but we are between a rock and a hard place – no permit, no carry. The biggest problem I see is the educational system. It is brainwashing our youth with this socialists crap and they are voting for it. They then pass unconstitutional laws, the liberal courts affirm them and you then follow them or suffer the consequences ie Roe v Wade.
More than 90% of the people who voted for FDR were born between 1850 and 1923. While FDR wasn’t the first to push socialism in America, he certainly was the most successful.
It’s not an age thing – we have always had people who wanted gun control and massive, forced redistribution of wealth.
Will – 2/13/21
“@JSNMGC,just curious, how did you arrive at those specific dates?”
Response to Will:
FDR won his first Presidential election in 1932. At that time, not many people older than 82-years old were voting. That sets the lower end at 1850.
FDR won his final Presidential election in 1944. At that time, voting age for the presidential election was 21. That sets the upper end at 1923.
True, but I think it is getting way worse. There are way too many citizens wanting free stuff and they are ignorant of the consequences of getting this free stuff. If the far left remains in control we are in for dark times.
I agree – things are getting crazier.
Even now though, the entitlement mentality is not limited to the young. We have people posting on this site who are fiercely defensive of their own pensions, but want the government to forcibly reduce other people’s earnings (e.g., people in ammo production and ammo sales) so they can maintain more of their wealth.
Some of the people who are the most influential in driving even more gun control laws are over 65-years old.
Who would have ever thought Broadway Joe would end up doing those commercials?
danlge enough Benjamins in front of anyone and, if not a man of integrity, he will say whutevah massa want.
“Some of the people who are the most influential in driving even more gun control laws are over 65-years old.”
I can guarantee that is not the case at my house.
I don’t have any US Senators, US Representatives, or US Presidents living at my house. 🙂
Everyone in my family is pro-2nd Amendment.
HoggBoyy is only prattling about the “DAYNjurs of them guns because corrupt people are pouring money into his pockets. Once the gravy tran wrecks, how many think he’ll keep stumping to take your and my guns?
Some of the most influential people in driving even more gun control:
Joe Biden, Dianne Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, James Clyburn, Robin Kelly (almost 65), Mike Thompson, Peter King (just left), Carolyn Maloney, Richard Blumenthal
Musicmand44mag,
A few more: Susan Collins, Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson Lee, Hank Johnson, Bill Pascrell, Grace Napolitano, Alcee Hastings, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chuck Grassley, Pat Roberts, Patrick Leahy, Bernie Sanders, Bill Nelson, Ben Cardin, and Dick Durbin.
There are more.
Musicman44mag,
A few more: Ed Markey, Tom Carper, Jeanne Shaheen, Joe Manchin, Mazie Hirono, Tom Udall, Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren, Debbie Stabenow, and Patty Murray.
There are many more.
Why do people born in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s hate guns and freedom? Were the teachers back then commies?
I will take umbrage to this post. I was born in the forties…..I don’t think any one should be pigeon holed because of their birthdate. Sounds almost racist..
Exactly my point! Here was the comment from Dave399 that started this: “The biggest problem I see is the educational system. It is brainwashing our youth with this socialists crap and they are voting for it. They then pass unconstitutional laws,” There have been many posts to the effect that it’s the young whipper-snappers causing the problems and back in the good old days there weren’t any problems. The fact is, there have always been a lot of people that wanted gun control and forced redistribution of wealth. Most of the people over 65 in the House and the Senate… Read more »
Age is a race now?
I’ve had this same discussion from the other side of things. Some of the people in their 20s I shoot with had a caricature image of elderly shooters as: Wearing an NRA lifetime member hat; Shooting a bolt action rifle (.30-06, blued steel and walnut stock) from the bench; Giving the evil eye to people shooting ARs and sighing in an annoyed manner when they shoot fast; and Claiming they are pro 2nd Amendment, BUT nobody needs an AR15 (there should be a law) and they really don’t like semiautomatic pistols (other than 1911s). After a long conversation, they usually… Read more »
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It seems to depend on which century you were born in, I guess.
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“When the proper court determines that a legislative act (a law) conflicts with the constitution, it finds that law unconstitutional and declares it void in whole or in part. This is called judicial review. … Thus, national constitutions typically apply only to government actions.”
In other words, exercise your rights without permits, but when you get caught and charged with an unconstitutional “crime”, FIGHT IT instead of wimping out!
But that pesky Second Article clearly states, with NO wriggle room, “SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED”. It gives no indication there is any intent to restrict who might infringe. In other words, ANY infringement by ANY entity violates the clear intent of that Article. The right is inviolate by any entity.
Compare to the First Article, which begins with CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW………..
If government pays no attention to the constitution , then they don’t violate it, that’s how it works.
BINGO !!
And that is an excellent idea! Credit hours that represent one hour of labor. Remember EVERYTHING only costs because of human labor. Even gold is only the price it is because its rarity means many thousands of hours go into the finding of it. This requires that the one who does find it be compensated for ALL of the labor it took… not just the labor of that one lucky prospector. It’s the idea of the huge jackpot that they might win that keeps all the other unlucky ones looking. But whatever currency system goes into place, if it isn’t… Read more »
“I agree, but we are between a rock and a hard place – no permit, no carry.”
You say that and yet I carried without “permission” from the State of Oklahoma for twenty years before they passed and I got my concealed carry permit. Life is all about choices.
Quote:
“But when we are in power we shall remove every kind of disturbing subject from the course of education and shall make out of the youth obedient children of authority, loving him who rules as the support and hope of peace and quiet.”
End Quote.
-The Protocols of the Elder Men of Zion, Protocol 16, Paragraph 3.
H.R. 38 declares you leaving your state with your handgun an act of interstate commerce, invoking the Commerce Clause. Stop looking at the shiny object dangled in front of you and start realizing what is really going on here! It is a further expansion of the Commerce Clause to firearms, the core of all federal gun control laws. You want national reciprocity of carry permits? All it takes is to sue the states for not allowing non-residents to carry their firearms! Gee, if we only had a pro-gun President that could have ordered the DOJ to sue the states for… Read more »
Oh, It’s WAY PAST “time to pass national concealed carry reciprocity.”
Agreed. The legislation is not actually needed to verify citizens’ natural rights… it is (definitely) needed to force Leftist government critters to keep their damned hands off!!!
It would take a concerted effort of all the gun owners, manufacturers, distributors, parts, ammo, accessory companies, etc., to combine our grievances in a class action against the United States and the several states to do away with ALL permits, passes, permission slips, etc., and return to the true 2nd Amendment for United States citizens.
No one wants to take on the government. “You can’t fight city hall” is an appropriate phrase when dealing with an entity that has a bottomless bank account to always get their way.
I wish we could take them on and win but we can’t get enough people to vote in a presidential election much less organize multiple states to fight this government overreach/infringement. The real trouble started when SCOTUS ruled that “reasonable regulations” could be adopted for absolute natural rights.
I applaud Schmidt’s efforts, but I’m skeptical as to his motive – his business is training gun owners. Getting fed gov permission for everyone to carry seems even more heinous than the already ridiculously restrictive state-to-state permission, what with likely for things like a national registration, and of course, a training requirement (how beneficial to Mr. Schmidt, et. al.). Just how big do you think this new federal agency would get to accomplish this?? And guess how we’d fund it? Same way we fund all of the fed gov, taxes! And you think there won’t We just keep on growing… Read more »
It’s not just your opinion, Happy. Gun control’s illegality is FACT, and that knowledge is shared by every other sane citizen!
Y’all are smoking crack if you think the dem control is gonna let this pass.
Sadly, you are spot-on accurate, Matt. The DemocRats individually, and their Party collectively, ARE the exact “domestic enemies of the US” that all (current and ex-) military and law enforcement members swore an oath – on our individual honor and integrity – to protect this country against.
Off topic but I’m wondering…
Where the F are the 120 million gun owners when it comes time to vote.
That beats the fake fraudulent 80 million by a lot.
Old question, but if we can fix that…. Game over.
Washington D.C. is looking to re capture its title of murder capitol but is having a hard time against Chicago, Baltimore, New Orleans , New York City is an up and comer, Los Angles, St Louis, Trenton, Houston, Detroit.. the list of big cities with CRIME problems goes on and on as politicians look for endless anti gun legislation to solve social issues in their hoods.
If only there was a singular commonality in all those cities that one could put their finger on.
Hmmmm…..
Dig deeper. The overall violent crime rate in Chicago doesn’t look all that bad. The rate is diluted by all the Chicago residents who don’t commit crimes. If you take the violent crimes in the handful of the most violent neighborhoods, and divide by the population of just those neighborhoods, the rate of murders and non-negligent homicides is horrific.
It’s not 15% higher than other areas of the U.S. (that have higher rates of firearm ownership). It’s not 150% higher. It’s not 1,500% higher.
It’s 15,000% higher.