US Senate concealed carry bill gains support

[Gifted]

Places like California and Maryland issue permits, but aren't "shall issue". You could go to say, Florida, get a nonresident permit, and carry there. You can't do that right now.

If they renew the AW, pull the Hughes amendment. If they do something else, counter. It'll go back and forth so much that they'll eventually have to scrap it.

 

[rhubarb]

I finally got a reply from Senator Cornyn (R-Texas), one of my servants in the Senate:

Dear Mr. Rhubarb:

Thank you for contacting me about federal firearms laws. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.

It is essential to safeguard the law-abiding citizen's right to own and use firearms designed for legitimate purposes such as hunting, target shooting, collecting, and self protection. Restricting this right runs counter to the intent of our Founding Fathers, who expressly guaranteed that citizens would retain the right to keep and bear arms.

As a former Texas Supreme Court Justice and Attorney General, I have firsthand knowledge of crime-fighting policies that work, and I believe that citizens' Second Amendment rights should not be restricted because of the actions of criminals. Rather, we must respect the rights of law-abiding citizens and focus our attention on the source of violent crime: criminals who use firearms to commit crimes. I believe that strictly enforcing the law and meting out longer sentences for career criminals and those who use firearms when committing crimes will reduce crime much more effectively than gun or equipment bans.

I appreciate the opportunity to represent Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will continue working with my colleagues to uphold our Second Amendment rights. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator

I don't see protecting Constitutional rights listed under "legitimate purposes."

 

[Kael]

I don't see protecting Constitutional rights listed under "legitimate purposes."

Perhaps not, but Restricting this right runs counter to the intent of our Founding Fathers, who expressly guaranteed that citizens would retain the right to keep and bear arms and uphold our Second Amendment rights seems pretty clear cut to me.

 

[B. Adams]

Ironically, I received a reply from my Democratic representative concening the House bill, but not my Republican senator that introduced the senate bill. Maybe he's got bigger things on his mind.

I can't tell if this is a generic response, but it seems fairly legitimate:

Dear Brian:

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for H.R. 226,
which would create a national standard for the carrying of
concealed firearms. I appreciate hearing from you.

Rep. Cliff Sterns of Florida re-introduced this bill on January 4,
2007. As you are probably aware, it would allow any person with a
valid concealed firearm carrying permit or license, issued by a
state, to carry a concealed firearm in any other state, in accordance
with the restrictions of that state.

Growing up on my family's farm near Houghton and the Sand
Lake Wildlife Refuge in the northeast part of the state, I appreciate
that outdoors activities are a great South Dakota tradition and vital
to our state's economy. Our wonderful culture of recreation and
outdoors activities contributes greatly to our high quality of life,
and I am working in Congress on behalf of our sportsmen and
women. We are all lucky to live here, and have an obligation and
opportunity to preserve the nation's best quality of life for future
generations. Guns are a part of South Dakota and I will fight to
protect the rights of responsible gun owners in our state.

I was pleased to receive an "A" rating from the NRA because of
my support of the rights of gun owners. As a defender of our
Second Amendment rights, I support allowing law-abiding citizens
to exercise their right to carry firearms for personal protection. I
oppose federal firearm registration and licensing and attempts to
limit gun owners' rights through bans on types of firearms or
ammunition.

This bill has most recently been referred to the House Committee
on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and
Homeland Security. I will be sure to keep your comments in mind
as it makes its way through the legislative proves. Thanks again
for contacting me. Please let me know if I can be of further
assistance.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Herseth

 

[Car Knocker]

So, does Rep. Herseth support H.R. 226 or not? She certainly did a nice tapdance in her response but I don't see anything definitive.

 

[B. Adams]

...I support allowing law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to carry firearms for personal protection.

Yeah, I guess she doesn't say it implicitly, but it kind of seems that she does. But your right, it's hard to tell just from what she wrote.

 

[Geronimo45]

"Sen Crapo, Mike"
His ads for candidacy must've been interesting, methinks.

Sounds like a good bill, if it passes. Heck, the Dems might decide that they need to get the gunny vote in '08, and pass it on through. Politics makes strange bedfellows, after all.

Love to carry in NY, just to tweak Pataki and Bloomberg.

Doesn't DC allow concealed carry, if you get the Marion Berry Memorial "***** set me up" permit? If this law passes... it might apply to DC, too.