I don’t have a concealed carry permit. I don’t even own a handgun or rifle. I don’t hunt. It isn’t like I’m against any of that. I just didn’t grow up with it, and I’ve never felt the need to carry or own one for self-defense. I did serve in the Army, qualified with an M-16. I have fired an M-60, thrown a live fragmentation hand grenade, and have fired numerous handguns, as well as, a friend’s AR-15 (civilian version of the M-16, which I’m firing in the picture) which was awesome.
I firmly believe in the 2nd Amendment which as a refresher for us all says:
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Shall not be infringed… then why is it that this right is stopped at state borders?
That practice was allowed to continue today.
The Senate sided with gun control advocates Wednesday by rejecting a measure that would have allowed people with concealed weapons permits to carry those hidden weapons across state borders.
Senators voted for the measure, 58-39, but it fell short of the required 60 votes for approval, based on a procedural agreement between Senate leaders.
The measure S. 371, sponsored by Senator John Thune (R-SD) as presented says:
To amend chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, to allow citizens who have concealed carry permits from the State in which they reside to carry concealed firearms in another State that grants concealed carry permits, if the individual complies with the laws of the State.
There are two states that don’t allow concealed weapons – Wisconsin and Illinois. This should be common sense, but alas… I guess not.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg basically said that criminals would roam free with guns. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) echoed that paranoia saying:
In Vermont you only need to be 16 years old and you can get a concealed carry permit," Schumer said. "Somebody from Vermont could come to New York with a backpack of guns, even if they were a member of the Crips or the Bloods, even if they had all kids of problems and our police officers could do virtually nothing.
Really? Go back and read the text of the measure… “if the individual complies with the laws of the State.” So if New York doesn’t allow a 16-year-old to carry, then a 16-year-old from Vermont won’t be allowed to carry and is subject to arrest if he or she does in New York.
In what state is a criminal allowed to carry a concealed weapon? What state doesn’t do a criminal background check? Senator Schumer said that the defeat of this measure made us safer.
The only ones who are safer are the criminals who will violate state law anyway. Senator Thune lists those who continue to make that possible.