Fellow Conservative,
A week ago, we told you about how Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) had introduced the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. (NOTE: This link directs to last year’s bill. The 2015 version is exactly the same)
Since then, there has been a huge outpouring of support from citizens and civil society organizations alike.
And I am writing to you today to say that we actually have a chance of getting this legislation passed!
But we still need your help. If we’re going to convince the RINOs and Democrats to vote on behalf of our Constitutional rights, then every single one of us needs to raise his or her voice and DEMAND that this common sense law be passed!
What this bill essentially does is make concealed weapons permits valid nationwide. Instead of relying on individual states to form reciprocity deals with one another, this legislation mandates that CCW permits be valid nationwide.
No more arresting citizens for unknowingly carrying a firearm across state lines. No more liberal states restricting the rights of citizens and visitors alike.
For the first time, the Second Amendment would be as the founders intended.
Don’t agree with me on that? Well, last time I checked, the Second Amendment didn’t say “the right of the people to keep and bear arms in their own state shall not be infringed.
The Supreme Court ruled in Heller v. DC that the Second Amendment protects an individual right. Then, a year later, the same court ruled in McDonald v. Chicago that the Second Amendment present in the United States Constitution also applies to states and municipalities.
So why do we let a minority of states continue to infringe on the rights of citizens within their borders? Why do we let these states arrest law-abiding citizens travelling through simply for possessing a firearm?
It’s just ludicrous!
It doesn’t matter what state you are from. If you are licensed to carry a weapon in your state (or if you live in a state that allows concealed carry without a permit) then you should have the right to carry nationwide.
Personally, I have concealed carry reciprocity in 37 states. I have taken the classes, proven my proficiency, and paid application fees to two different states.
But that number should be 50… A concealed weapons permit should be valid across the country.
Last time I wrote to you, I explained how Congress gave police officers concealed carry reciprocity 10 years ago. The logic is that since police officers are (for the most part) well trained, they should be allowed to carry across the country and fight crime nationwide.
But many police officers are only forced to train/qualify only once a year. Compare that to the law-abiding citizens who are at the shooting range practicing every week.
Sovereign citizens are just as capable at defending themselves and others as police officers are!
No one is saying that we should go back to the Wild West. We are talking about allowing trained and licensed citizens to carry their weapons outside their state of residence.
Concealed carriers are some of the most law-abiding citizens in society. In Texas, for example, a Concealed Handgun License holder is only 1/12th as likely to commit a crime as an average citizen is.
These statistics are echoed across the country.
Criminals don’t ask for permission before they carry a weapon. The only thing that this patchwork system of gun laws accomplishes is making it harder for law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and those around them!
So here is what we’re going to do… We are going to continue to pressure the GOP to pass this law and tack it onto a “must pass” piece of legislation to ensure that Obama signs it.
But we also need to make sure that enough Democrats are on board to get this bill passed. Right now, there are 53 GOP Senators who are likely on board. That means we need SEVEN Democrats to get the bill passed and twice as many to overturn a Presidential veto.
Here are seven Democrat Senators who have voted in favor of concealed carry legislation in the past: Senators Joe Donnelly (IN), Heidi Heitkamp (ND), Martin Heinrich (NM), Joe Manchin (WV), Jon Tester (MT), Tom Udall (NM) and Mark Warner (VA).
There are other Democrat Senators who are ripe for the picking: Senators Claire McCaskill (MO), Michael Bennet (CO), Bill Nelson (FL) and Tim Kaine (VA), as well as independent Sen. Angus King (ME).
Sincerely,
Max McGuire
Advocacy Director
Conservative Daily
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