The Stearns Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill

U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns` (R-Fla.) national Right-to-Carry (RTC) reciprocity bill, H.R. 4547, 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, as follows: In states that issue concealed firearm permits, a state`s laws governing where concealed firearms may be carried would apply within its own borders. In states that do not issue carry permits, a federal "bright-line" standard would permit carrying in places other than police stations; courthouses; public polling places; meetings of state, county, or municipal governing bodies; schools; passenger areas of airports; and certain other locations. H.R. 4547 would also apply to D.C., Puerto Rico and U.S. territories. The bill would not create a federal licensing system; it would require the states to recognize each others` carry permits, just as they recognize drivers` licenses and carry permits held by armored car guards. Rep. Stearns has introduced such legislation since 1995.

• Today, 46 states have laws permitting concealed carry, in some circumstances. Thirty-eight states, accounting for two-thirds of the U.S. population, have RTC laws. Thirty-four have "shall issue" permit laws (including Alaska, which also allows carrying without a permit), three have fairly administered "discretionary issue" permit laws, and Vermont allows carrying without a permit. (Eight states have restrictive discretionary issue laws.) Most RTC states have adopted their laws during the last decade.
• Citizens with carry permits are more law-abiding than the general public. Only 0.02% of more than a half million permits issued by Florida have been revoked because of firearm crimes by permit holders. Similarly low percentages of permits have been revoked in Texas, Virginia, and other RTC states that keep such statistics. RTC is widely supported by law enforcement officials and groups.
• States with RTC laws have lower violent crime rates. On average, 21% lower total violent crime, 28% lower murder, 43% lower robbery, and 13% lower aggravated assault, compared to the rest of the country. Nine of the 10 states with the lowest violent crime rates are RTC states. (Data: FBI.)
• Crime declines in states with RTC laws. Since adopting RTC in 1987, Florida`s total violent crime and murder rates have dropped 31% and 52%, respectively. Texas` violent crime and murder rates have dropped 19% and 33%, respectively, since its 1996 RTC law. (Data: FBI.)
• The right of self-defense is fundamental, and has been recognized in law for centuries. The Declaration of Independence asserts that "life" is among the unalienable rights of all people. The Second Amendment guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms for "security."
• The laws of all states and constitutions of most states recognize the right to use force in self-defense. The Supreme Court has stated that a person "may repel force by force" in self-defense, and is "entitled to stand his ground and meet any attack made upon him with a deadly weapon, in such a way and with such force" as needed to prevent "great bodily injury or death." (Beard v. U.S., 1895)
• Congress affirmed the right to guns for "protective purposes" in the Gun Control Act (196 and Firearm Owners` Protection Act (1986). In 1982, the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution described the right to arms as "a right of the individual citizen to privately possess and carry in a peaceful manner firearms and similar arms."

Posted: 1/31/2006
http://www.nraila.org/Issues/FactShe...ad.aspx?ID=189



I gotta love Florida, We created the idea of a CCW and now we are pushing a bill so that anyone that has a CCW can carry in any state. SUpport this bill, it will lead to better things. Write, email, and call you Congressmen/Congresswomen and tell them to support this bill. Make sure it passes.

Sound nice! Do Texas have right to carry weapon without a permit?

Very interesting figures, thank you amigo.

Originally Posted by Fox

Sound nice! Do Texas have right to carry weapon without a permit?

If you are hunting you can carry a firearm in the open. But that's it. In Texas I believe that you can only conceal carry a weapon for presonal protection. No open carry for general reason unless hunting.

Texas does have a CCW and they do allow anyone from Florida with a Florida CCW to carry in Texas. So I'm happy either way.

For more information on what you state does and does not allow for the carrying of firearms. Check out http://www.packing.org/. That have a tone of info.

I'd only support this if ALL states start to require standard safety and proficiency courses prior to the permits being issue. As it is now, some states do not require anything but the background check and the fee, and you get your CCW in the mail.

I'd only support this if ALL states start to require standard safety and proficiency courses prior to the permits being issue. As it is now, some states do not require anything but the background check and the fee, and you get your CCW in the mail.

Chances are if your applying for a CCW you probally know how to shoot a pistol.

Originally Posted by Rabs

Chances are if your applying for a CCW you probally know how to shoot a pistol.

Who says you KNOW how to? You? How do I know? I don't trust a lot of civil LE officers to shoot properly, much less your average civilian. That isn't a slam on the police, either, it's just a fact that they do not get enough range time through most departments.

I know quite a few people that had their CCW before they purchased their first handgun.

There is a lot of irresponsible gun owners out there, it doesn't hurt our Constitutional rights to want them to be up to snuff, even if just a little before they are allowed to carry in different states.

NC requires everyone to go through a couple of courses. Indiana doesn't. Why should it be okay for someone in Indiana that hasn't at least shown his knowledge of basic safety and proficiency with his weapon to carry in NC?

If most know how to shoot, they won't mind going through a few hours of class time/range time. That's all I'm saying.

Because sometimes some folks grow up around firearms. I have a good friend from Georgia thhat grew up hunting. He's never taken a course for shooting and shoots like any other champion shooter.

What what about the damn Driver's License. Half of the idiots on the road drive worse than some people shoot.

Firearms have less points of control than a a car. Don't knock it till you tired it.

Originally Posted by 5.56X45mm

Because sometimes some folks grow up around firearms. I have a good friend from Georgia thhat grew up hunting. He's never taken a course for shooting and shoots like any other champion shooter.

What what about the damn Driver's License. Half of the idiots on the road drive worse than some people shoot.

Firearms have less points of control than a a car. Don't knock it till you tired it.

Try what? Driving: Check. Firearms: Check. I grew up around them. My Dad was an SOG guy. In my unit we can put more rounds downrange in a month than most units get to in an entire year. (Yay budget).

That said, people still have to test before they can drive, every state requires this. And before I support anything that allows someone to carry from state to state, I would like to think there is a standard safety and proficiency course for everyone out there.

Just because someone grew up around firearms, doesn't mean they are proficient with them. If they are as good as they think they are, and know as much as they think they know, the course would be a cake walk for them. No harm done either way.

Well, each state might have a driver's test. But not all driver's test are the same. Your point is moot in that regard. You think that someone from a state with a CCW that has lower standards isn't right. Well, it happens all the time with driving.

In my opinion. No one should need a CCW. If they want to conceal carry, they can. If they want to open carry, they can. If they want to own a fully automatic, supressed ar-15 with a Beta-C drum. Sure why the hell not.

As Americans, you have the legal right to own what ever firearm you wanted. The 2nd Amendment was written about duck hunting.

Constitution of the United States of America, Amendment II

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.

Florida State Constitution Article I, Section 8. Right to Bear Arms.--

(a) The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law.
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.