***National CCW vote likely late this morning***

[ericire12]

http://www.examiner.com/x-2206-Cleveland-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m7d22-National-ccw-reciprocity-bill-vote-likely

Reports claim that the amendment being considered in the Senate to mandate all states who issue concealed carry licenses or otherwise allow concealed carry recognize ccw permits issued in other states will be voted on late this morning.

Sources report that support for the Thune-Vitter Amendment is nearly evenly split and the vote could go either way with only a few undecided Senators meaning the difference.

Meanwhile, the debate rages as those opposing the amendment continue to spread lies and use scare tactics in order to try to win the day.

"It makes no sense to make cities such as Los Angeles and Boston, which have significant urban crime, to conform to the politics of rural places. Nor is there much sense in forcing urban police officers to make instant decisions on the legitimacy of pieces of paper handed to them by menacing looking people packing heat." - USA Today

Even President Obama, while campaigning, has tried to perpetuate the myth that your rights should be based on where you live. The Second Amendment is a fundamental individual right, and no right should know any boundaries. I've also met hundreds of ccw holders, and I've never seen one that looked all that menacing.

The idea that determining the legitimacy of a non-resident ccw license is any more difficult that validating a non-resident drivers license is absurd. Not to mention the fact that it happens regularly today since there are many states which recognize out-of-state licenses already.

“I have to doubt that if the amendment passes, people will die as a result of it." - Senator Dianne Feinstein

There's a good chance she's right on that one. Violent criminals may very well be killed by their intended victims. Of course, what she's really trying to do is make people believe that ccw holders are out menacing society on a daily basis. Does she really believe that the same people who have absolutely no violent tendencies in their home states will suddenly become rabid killers when they visit another state?

The list goes on and on, and some anti-gun Senators are threatening a filibuster. The truth is that ccw programs have been proven to be safe in every state. In fact, Ohio neighbor Michigan already recognizes other state's licenses without a reciprocity agreement. One reader of this column posted yesterday:

"For many decades Michigan has recognized concealed pistol licenses from all states, even though Michigan has one of the nation's most rigorous CPL laws. We have experienced no special problems as a consequence. Those who oppose Thume's bill have no argument whatsoever."  - David Felbeck

Senator John Thune also responded to the anti-gun rhetoric in a letter to the New York Times:

    The reasonable bipartisan amendment on conceal-carry reciprocity, which I am proud to co-sponsor with 25 of my Senate colleagues, is about safety and the simple recognition that our constitutional rights should not end at the state line.

    The law would apply only to people who are not prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm. It would not allow for carrying a concealed weapon into any state or area that has chosen not to permit concealed carry. In fact, it requires full compliance with all of the laws of the state in which the firearm would be carried. Contrary to your assertions, it does nothing to nullify state laws governing the places and manner in which those weapons can be carried.

    This amendment would likewise do nothing to endanger police officers or other law-abiding citizens. Numerous states already permit national concealed-carry reciprocity and have not experienced any significant law enforcement difficulties. To call this amendment an “assault on public safety” is the worst and most counterproductive kind of fear-mongering.

We should know the result of the vote in a few hours, but this I can guarantee: if the amendment does pass, once more the anti-gun lies will be proven untrue because all of the fear-mongering will fail to come to pass and the program will be a success. No matter how many times they cry wolf, gun control pundits cannot alter reality.

[JC5123]

Sounds like a good first step toward incorporating some sort of Castle Doctrine. Does anyone know if Di Fi has a concealed carry permit? I am relatively sure that Boxer and Pelosi both have one. I just want to know who ALL the hypocrites are.

[1Buckshot]

The paper reported this morning that both of the Montana Senators were backing the Thune amendment. Both are Democrats. Some times they vote good and some times bad. Baucus is behind the new heath bill.

[Bill Stryker]

The Wall Street Journal Opinion page carried an attack on the Thune amendment by NY District Attorney Morganthau. Usually the WSJ itself pokes fun at opponents of the Second Amendment. Leftists like to write in the WSJ Opinion page because they don't get much or any support from the WSJ. The DA's screed was flat out lefty BS.
I pity those of you that live in NY. At least when I lived there for 8 years of my life it was on a Federal Enclave and the NY laws did not apply to Federal Officers.

[nupe]

One more reason i like living in South Dakota.   

[Sponsor]

[MikeBjerum]

How does the Tenth Amendment play into this?

I know that it goes both ways, but it did not work for DC ... However, all those folks that actually live in DC are just plain hosed by the rest of us with their quazy citizen status.

On the radio a few minutes ago Thune was interviewed and made a good case for Rights.  However, an IL official was quoted about this being a trampling of states' Rights.

If IL, for one, is able to pull the Tenth on us, where will that leave the rest of the Constitution and Bill of Rights in terms of value any more?

[tt11758]

One more reason i like living in South Dakota.   

One more reason I like living NEXT door to South Dakota...........they honor Iowa permits!!   

[MikeBjerum]

One more reason I like living NEXT door to South Dakota...........they honor Iowa permits!!   

Wish I could still say that ... MN and SD got into a pissing match and the citizens lost 

[Timothy]

Wish I could still say that ... MN and SD got into a pissing match and the citizens lost  

Look again Mike.  

According to the NRA-ILA site, SD recognizes MN but not the other way around.  Heck, SD recognizes my MA permit too!

[Magnum]

Sorry about this, but it didn't pass the Senate. It fell two votes shy.