Lining up public officials in support of legislation is standard fare for interest groups advancing their agenda on Capitol Hill. But the letter signed by 23 state Attorneys General in support of the National Rifle Association's bill to nationalize concealed carry of handguns suggests that, for those public officials, pandering to the gun lobby is far more important than doing the job they were sworn to perform.
Call me naïve, but I had always thought that a State Attorney General had a solemn duty to enforce the laws of his/her state. Apparently some Attorneys General recognize a "gun law" exception to that obligation.
The legislation supported by the "Gang of 23," the so-called "National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act" (H.R. 822), would force states to recognize the concealed carry permits of visitors from other states, even if the permit holder could not have qualified for a permit from the state he/she is visiting. Under this bill, Congress would be barring states from enforcing their restrictions on concealed carry against out-of-state visitors. In other words, the considered judgment of a state legislature that certain restrictions on concealed carry are required for the protection of the public would be nullified by H.R. 822. I would have thought these Attorneys General, as the chief law enforcement officers in their states, would want the authority to enforce these laws.
To give an example, Montana law provides that persons are not eligible to carry concealed weapons if they have been convicted of certain violent misdemeanors, such as unlawful restraint or sexual assault. Under H.R. 822, Montana could not enforce this eligibility requirement against permit holders from other states who have been convicted of those crimes. One would think that Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock would be interested in preventing sexual predators from bringing their concealed weapons into his State, but his signature appears on the letter supporting H.R. 822, asking Congress to prevent him from enforcing his state's own laws.
It is true, as the "Gang of 23" letter points out, that many of the 23 states already have inter-state agreements recognizing the validity of certain out-of-state permits. But these are agreements the states themselves have chosen to enter into with other states. Under H.R. 822, Congress would force the states to honor the permits issued by every other state. "Reciprocity" would be a matter of federal mandate, not state choice. In effect, by supporting H.R. 822, these Attorneys General are telling the Congress: "Our elected officials cannot be trusted to make the right decisions about who should be allowed to carry concealed weapons in our state. Please make those decisions for us."
Who are some of the people allowed to legally carry concealed weapons under the permissive laws of various states? Florida gave a concealed carry permit to George Zimmerman, even though he had been subject to a restraining order and had been involved in an altercation with the police. Had Florida's concealed carry laws not been so weak, there is every reason to believe that Zimmerman would not have had a gun when he encountered Trayvon Martin that fateful February night and that the teenager would be alive today. A better name for H.R. 822 would be the "George Zimmerman Act," in recognition of the mayhem it will cause to allow people like George Zimmerman to carry their hidden guns across state lines.
Now we have disclosures from Florida law enforcement that violent drug gangs in Miami are making sure some of their members obtain concealed carry permits to allow them to be legally strapped in public. The Zimmerman Act will be a godsend to the Hell's Angels and other violent gangs with well-developed interstate operations.
The Zimmerman Act has passed the NRA-controlled House of Representatives. Similar bills, one sponsored by Senators Vitter (R-La.) and Thune (R-S.D.) and one sponsored by Sen. Begich (D-Alaska), are pending in the Senate. Nationalizing concealed carry remains the gun lobby's top legislative priority, though the Trayvon Martin shooting finds the NRA laying low for the time being. There is no better time than the present for the "Gang of 23" to rediscover their obligations as the law enforcement leaders of their states and put their duty to enforce their states' laws above their obeisance to the leaders of the NRA.
As for now, they should be ashamed of themselves.
For more information, see Dennis Henigan's Lethal Logic: Exploding the Myths that Paralyze American Gun Policy (Potomac Books 2009).
It allows the Federal Government to get involved via the "commerce laws"; which could then give the federal government regulatory power over a state permits. This could cause some very unintended issues...like national data bases and federal control if you travel out of your issuing state.
His example about Montana's restrictions relating to violent misdemeanors is especially laughable, considering the fact that:
1. Federal law already prohibits possession of firearms by those who have been convicted of crimes of domestic violence, who are subject to typical restraining orders relating to stalking or domestic violence, or who have been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year.
2. Montana has already chosen to recognize the permits of 41 other states, including states which will issue non-resident permits to any person in the county, and which do not have the same restriction Henigan points out, essentially allowing anyone in the country who meets the federal firearm possession requirements to carry there.
Ah yes, another person who has convicted Zimmerman already. BTW, the RO had expired long ago and would therefore in the majority of states it would not have been a reason to deny a concealed carry permit. Likewise, the altercation with a law enforcement officer did not result in a conviction and in most states would not be a reason to deny a concealed carry permit.
The cab that I had Saturday was a winner of Double Gold at the San Francisco competition last year. It is delicious as is their petite syrah. Pinoir noir is not quite bold enough for my tastes, but they do produce one that is very popular. The winery is Jean Farris and most of what they produce is local and available to the wine club members and at their wine bar and restaurant. We go about once a week to enjoy the wines and chat with folks who have stopped on their travels. The winery is right off interstate 75 and many are touring the bluegrass area and the horse farms, but some are just on a self-guided wine tour or traveling points north and south. A memorable cab is Regusci 2001, and too pricey for everyday indulgence, but I believe a California wine. Your area, Washington state, produces my favorite Reislings, but now I am having a Kendall Jackson Reserve chardonnay(about $14) and liking it way too much. I hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend, le 45. What are some of your favorite wine brands?
Have you tasted their new Avant which is not oaked or malolacto fermented as their other chardonnays are. I still like the original better.
I remember anti-gunners protested and declared that the ATT is not a reality. And quite a few, almost all actually claimed that the gun rights people were just fear mongering for their agenda. Well it seems that it really is here, and the anti-gun people were less than truthful about it as usual.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-sapp/the-most-important-treaty-youve-never-heard-of_b_1544593.html
That what happens when you are trying to do 3 things at the same time.
Were those 3 reporters that altered then aired the altered version of the 911 tapes NRA people? Were the people that denied the existance of thise treaty NRA people? Were the people that claimed this treaty was a hoax 3 months ago NRA people? Are the people that even now deny it's real NRA people?
And if you really want to discuss the Martin case, there are still comment section on articles for that particular topic.
The gun banner is at it again coming up with word changes to suit his agenda. Just as they change statistics to suit their lame stance. Always demonization spouted as they run their hands through the blood of the fallen.
I knew Henigan was living in the past...but that is just too funny!
You will enjoy it here much better than there.