Lyles: Bill aims at gun permits
One of the more interesting political struggles for the foreseeable future will be the battle over gun rights.
A skirmish that will be interesting to watch is an initiative designed to address the nation’s confusing patchwork of reciprocity laws that define which permits from other states each state will recognize. Earlier this month, Congressman
The concept of reciprocity makes a lot of sense and has worked well in other areas. For example, even though each state controls the issuance of driver’s licenses, all states honor driver’s licenses from each of the other states. Marriage licenses from each state are also recognized throughout the 50 states. Even though traffic laws vary from state to state, every driver must obey the laws in whichever state they choose to drive. The same concept is written into the Hudson Bill regarding concealed carry. Every person who carries in a different state will have to obey the laws of that state.
Twenty-two states either already have national reciprocity laws that recognize all other concealed carry licenses or they simply allow law-abiding non-residents to carry firearm without a license. Those states have some of the lowest gun violence and crime rates in the nation. It only makes sense to seriously consider making concealed carry reciprocal on a national scale.
Eighteen states recognize the concealed carry licenses of some other states. A mere 10 states stubbornly refuse to grant full faith and credit to licensees from other states. This means that law-abiding citizens with legal permits must surrender their rights when entering these states.
It is one thing to say a person must conform to concealed carry laws when they travel in different states. It’s like saying you must obey our traffic laws if you drive here. It’s another thing entirely to say people must abandon their right completely. That’s like saying when you drive into our state you’ll have to abandon your car at the state line and hop on a bicycle or order an Uber.
The proposed legislation has already inspired predictable opposition from opponents of concealed carry. For example, one anti-carry website claimed the bill would “allow dangerous individuals – including convicted criminals, domestic abusers and stalkers – to legally carry guns in public.” Simply put, this is a lie. The proposed legislation allows a person to carry a concealed weapon only if: 1) they are not federally prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm; 2) they are carrying a valid, government issued, photo ID; and 3) are lawfully licensed or otherwise entitled to carry a handgun (for example, sworn law enforcement).
Another major factor that complicates any legislative action regarding guns is money. Similar to the way civil rights or abortion laws have created their own industries, gun laws have also created their own industry. Too many people who have too much at stake financially now work as gun lobbyists and gun control advocacy groups to allow for straightforward, rational discussion of the issues.
It’s time we simply looked at the facts pertaining to these issues and made rational decisions in response to those facts. All Americans would benefit from the passage and implementation of practical laws regarding gun ownership and the rights of citizens to bear arms such as the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. By passing such groundbreaking legislation, Congress will also lay the groundwork for passing similar legislation in other areas of concern where emotion tends to overshadow rational thinking.
Lyles, a Poway resident, is a management consultant and best-selling author. Reader comments, though letters to the editor, are encouraged. Email them to editor@pomeradonews.com.
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