National repicrocity in Congress (GOA alert)

[Shawn.L]

Senator Vitter To Offer Concealed Carry Reciprocity Amendment-- Action needed right away!
Gun Owners of America
E-Mail Alert
8001 Forbes Place, Suite 102,
Springfield, VA 22151
Phone: 703-321-8585 /
FAX: 703-321-8408
http://www.gunowners.org

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Senator David Vitter (R-LA) has filed a pro-gun amendment to HR 980, and itcould be voted on as early as tomorrow! This amendment would protect the right of citizens to carry concealedweapons (outside of their home state) in states that allow concealed carry.
Sen. Vitter explains that his amendment does not violate the rights ofstates as it "does NOT establish national standards for concealed carry, nordoes it provide for a national carry permit."
In other words, the Vitter amendment specifically says that state laws concerning specific types of locations in which firearms may not be carriedshall be followed. "My amendment will not federalize concealed carrypermits but simply requires concealed carry permits to be recognized inother states that allow concealed carry permits," Vitter said.
This is a real reciprocity provision which grants citizens the "full faithand credit" protection that is guaranteed in Article IV of the Constitution.
Section 1 of this article says: Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records, and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
Vitter says that this constitutional provision authorizes the Congress topass legislation forcing each state to recognize the "public Acts" of otherstates.
So if states are not willing to recognize another state's laws,Congress has the authority to pass laws to require recognition of those measures.
It's just like with driver's licenses. If certain states refused to honorthe driver's licenses of citizens in other states, Congress could passlegislation (under Article IV) to require every state to honor all licenses.

ACTION: Please urge your Senators to vote for the Vitter amendment to HR980 to protect the right to carry concealed firearms outside of your homestate.

You can visit the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center athttp://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your Senators the pre-writtene-mail message below.
And, you can call your Senators at 202-224-3121 ortoll-free at 1-877-762-8762.
----- Pre-written letter -----
Dear Senator:
Please support the Vitter amendment to HR 980. This amendment will protectthe right of citizens to carry firearms outside of their home state withoutviolating the rights of other states. Thus, the Vitter language masterfullyprotects the principle of federalism while also promoting Second Amendmentrights. A person's right to defend himself and his family should not end at theborder of his state. I urge you to vote for the Vitter concealed carry amendment.

Sincerely, ****************************

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[soberbyker]

http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm

Letter sent to my Senators

[Big Dog]

Done .......... Come on folks!!!

[Nastrand69]

Done! Simple and easy to do--take two mins to show your support!

[fingers80002]

Sent!!!!!!

[awkx]

Originally Posted by Shawn.L

Senator David Vitter (R-LA) has filed a pro-gun amendment to HR 980... This amendment would protect the right of citizens to carry concealed weapons (outside of their home state) in states that allow concealed carry. ... "My amendment will not federalize concealed carrypermits but simply requires concealed carry permits to be recognized inother states that allow concealed carry permits," Vitter said.

This is a real reciprocity provision which grants citizens the "full faith and credit" protection that is guaranteed in Article IV of the Constitution.
Section 1 of this article says: Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records, and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.

I'm not sure I support the Vitter amendment. I think it might be pushing the Full Faith And Credit clause beyond its original meaning. [footnote 1] I would need to examine the exact wording of the amendment.


Footnote 1: Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States by Joseph Story (1833). Book 3, Chap 29: "Power of Congress as to Proof of State Records and Proceedings"

[jfrommbg]

Sent!! dang i gotta get on this forum more... Been missing too much

[Philadelphia]

Sent it.

Also, change the subject line to indicate support for the amendment. I've found that a lot of senators (or their assistants), don't actually read the content of the letters.

[Philadelphia]

Originally Posted by awkx

I'm not sure I support the Vitter amendment. I think it might be pushing the Full Faith And Credit clause beyond its original meaning. [footnote 1] I would need to examine the exact wording of the amendment.


Footnote 1: Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States by Joseph Story (1833). Book 3, Chap 29: "Power of Congress as to Proof of State Records and Proceedings"

So . . . how did Congress temporarily ban so called assault weapons and standard capacity magazines a few years back?

[awkx]

Originally Posted by Philadelphia

So . . . how did Congress temporarily ban so called assault weapons and standard capacity magazines a few years back?

They did it illegally.
But two wrongs don't make a right.