nationwide reciprocity bill H.R. 822 from NRA website

[crzynate]

Urge Your Representative to Cosponsor H.R. 822, The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act Of 2011

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Friday, August 26, 2011

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Earlier this year, Congressmen Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) introduced vital legislation that will enable millions of permit holders to exercise their right to self-defense while traveling outside their home states.

There is now only one state (Illinois) that has no clear legal way for individuals to carry concealed firearms for self-defense.* Forty states have permit systems that make it possible for any law-abiding person to obtain a permit, while most of the others have discretionary permit systems. (Vermont has never required a permit.)*

H.R. 822 would make a major step forward for gun owners' rights by significantly expanding where those permits are recognized.

Dozens of states have passed Right-to-Carry laws over the past 25 years because the right to self-defense does not end when one leaves home.* However, interstate recognition of those permits is not uniform and creates great confusion and potential problems for travelers.* While many states have broad reciprocity, others have very restrictive reciprocity laws. Still others deny recognition completely.

H.R. 822 would solve this problem by requiring that lawfully issued carry permits be recognized, while protecting the ability of the various states to determine the areas where carrying is prohibited within their boundaries.* The bill would not create a federal licensing system; rather, it would require the states to recognize each others' carry permits, just as they recognize driver's licenses and carry permits held by armored car guards. Rep. Stearns has introduced similar legislation since 1999
As of this writing, H.R. 822 has 242 cosponsors.* Click here to see if your congressman is a cosponsor.* However, more support is needed to make this bill a higher priority.

If your congressman is not yet a cosponsor, respectfully urge him or her to support the fundamental right to self-defense by becoming a cosponsor of H.R. 822.

[PowerPM]

Sounds hopefully, but without a majority in both houses, it might be futile unless tied to an appropriations bill.

[IronSight]

There is now only one state (Illinois) that has no clear legal way for individuals to carry concealed firearms for self-defense.* Forty states have permit systems that make it possible for any law-abiding person to obtain a permit, while most of the others have discretionary permit systems. (Vermont has never required a permit.)*

Oh I'm sure it's just perfectly clear in NJ, NY, MD, and CA how to legally carry a concealed firearm for self defense.

[steamtownwelder]

Should stay a state by state decision.

[Greywolf]

Should stay a state by state decision.

And under this proposed law it would remain a state-by-state decision. If you live in PA and PA decides not to issue you a LTCF -- you would then have no basis under which to carry in other states.

All this law does is extend a fundamental principle that's already in the U.S. Constitution: "Full faith and credit." All it does is say that if your home state is willing to license you to carry a firearm, the other states should honor that license.

I honestly don't see why so many people (who claim to be RKBA advocates) are so against this bill.

[JTokash]

What happens if your home state denies a person a license/permit, can they get a non-resident license/permit from another state and be valid under this proposed system?

[Greywolf]

What happens if your home state denies a person a license/permit, can they get a non-resident license/permit from another state and be valid under this proposed system?

Here's the bill: http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-h822/text

Sec. 926D. Reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms

‘(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the law of any State or political subdivision thereof, related to the carrying or transportation of firearms, a person who is not prohibited by Federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm, and who is carrying a government-issued photographic identification document and a valid license or permit which is issued pursuant to the law of a State and which permits the person to carry a concealed firearm, may carry a concealed handgun (other than a machinegun or destructive device) that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, in any State, other than the State of residence of the person, that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(1) has a statute that allows residents of the State to obtain licenses or permits to carry concealed firearms; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘(2) does not prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms by residents of the State for lawful purposes

(That's not the full bill, just the part that answers the question.)

It appears that non-resident permits would qualify. It should be noted that, since Illinois has no carry permits, nobody can carry in Illinois even under this law. The other little gotcha is that a non-resident permit would NOT allow you to carry in your own state of residence.

[JDrini-NJ]

And under this proposed law it would remain a state-by-state decision. If you live in PA and PA decides not to issue you a LTCF -- you would then have no basis under which to carry in other states.

All this law does is extend a fundamental principle that's already in the U.S. Constitution: "Full faith and credit." All it does is say that if your home state is willing to license you to carry a firearm, the other states should honor that license.

I honestly don't see why so many people (who claim to be RKBA advocates) are so against this bill.

That still wouldn't help us here in NJ! Less then 1000 CCW permits have been issued here outside of LEO's to my knowledge. I have done alot of homework on this topic. Please reply and correct me if I am wrong on that stat.

[PA-Joe]

Be careful about this. The major holdup between states is a mandatory training requirement including live fire training. That is why a lot of states do not honor the PA LTCF.

[steamtownwelder]

Be careful about this. The major holdup between states is a mandatory training requirement including live fire training. That is why a lot of states do not honor the PA LTCF.

^^This guy, he knows what he's talking about.