Tennessee Firearms Assoc. Inc.

Friday, January 23, 2009

U.S. Representatives Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Rick Boucher (D-Va.), recently introduced H.R. 197-- the "National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009"--a bill that would provide national recognition for valid state Right-to-Carry licensees.

The bill would allow any person with a valid carry permit or license issued by a state, to carry a concealed firearm in any other state if the permit holder meets certain criteria. In states that issue permits, a state's laws governing where concealed firearms may be carried would apply within its borders. In states that do not issue carry permits, a federal standard would apply. The bill would not create a federal licensing system; it would simply require the states to recognize each other's carry permits, just as they recognize drivers' licenses.

Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) is expected to introduce the Senate companion bill in the near future. Rep. Stearns has introduced such legislation since 1995.



I ran across this today and found it interesting... would like to hear some opinions about it worth.

I have mixed feeling about this. Though I would like to able to carry my weapon no matter where I go on vaccation or buisness travels I still see this as a states right. I also think this would be a move to set certain nationwide standards for training to get a carry permit. For example when I lived in Ga my permit was signed by the county judge and required no training like we do here in TN. Currenlty there is a federal law that covers certain jobs, like armored car guards, that is good in all 50 states if, the state that issued the armed guard permit meets certain criteria. One of those being that the issuing state require annual qualification. I do not know if it has changed, but when I had my armed guard card TN only required qualification once every 2 years so we do not meet that requirment.

This would also lead down the slope of other things that "MUST" be honored by other states such a marriage licences between two men or two women from states that allow gay marriage.

This is better off being left up to the state.

I agree that this is best left to the states.

I fear doing this at the federal level is the camel's nose in the tent.

I am ok with the idea only if someone can show me where in the Constitution this authority is expressly granted to the federal government.

By power, I am talking about the authority to supersede the rights of the individual states to define what constitutes purely intrastate criminal conduct.

If we open this door it could easily be used against us!!!!!