Gun Violence Prevention Groups Outraged Over Concealed Carry Law
WASHINGTON, DC -- America’s major gun violence prevention organizations-the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Freedom States Alliance, Legal Community Against Violence, States United to Prevent Gun Violence, and Violence Policy Center- issued the following joint statement expressing their outrage that an amendment is scheduled to be considered on Monday, July 20, in the U.S. Senate that would dramatically weaken state regulations concerning the carrying of concealed handguns in public:
“Amendment No. 1618 to the defense authorization bill (S. 1390), introduced by Senator John Thune (R-SD), would create a national system for the carrying of concealed handguns, commonly referred to as CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) licenses. The amendment would allow individuals with state-issued CCW licenses to carry their handguns in any state that issues concealed handgun licenses-today the vast majority of states.
"It is an outrage that in a year thus far defined by gun violence-from massacres, to the murder of police, to hate crimes-the U.S. Senate is preparing to consider an amendment that would dramatically weaken federal and state gun laws. The practical effect of the amendment would be to reduce concealed carry permit regulations to the lowest common denominator. Currently, many states have weak laws and issue residents permits after only a simple computerized background check.
"This year, there have already been three confirmed mass shootings committed by concealed carry permit holders. In April, Richard Poplawski ambushed four Pittsburgh police officers, fatally shooting three and injuring one. In March, CCW holder Michael McLendon killed 11 people, including the wife of a deputy sheriff, before taking his own life following a gun battle with police in Alabama. In February, CCW holder Frank Garcia killed four people in a shooting rampage in upstate New York.
"Concealed carry laws do not, as their proponents argue, aid police and enhance public safety. Instead, they threaten law enforcement and arm criminals. States should be acting to repeal these laws instead of Congress moving to expand their deadly reach.
"Research by the Violence Policy Center found that from 1996 to 2000, Texas concealed handgun license holders were arrested for weapon-related offenses at a rate 81 percent higher than that of the general population of Texas, aged 21 and older.
"In 2007, the 'Florida Sun-Sentinel' conducted an exhaustive review of the operation of Florida’s concealed carry law-the model for most permissive state concealed handgun laws. The paper found more than 1,400 people who had pleaded guilty or no contest to felony charges yet qualified for concealed carry licenses because of a loophole in the law.
“In December of last year, authorities in Tennessee reported that 200 state residents who have permits to carry concealed handguns could have their permits revoked or suspended because they have active restraining orders against them.
"Under the Thune Amendment, people who obtain a CCW permit under such flawed systems would be free to carry their guns in any state that issues concealed carry licenses.
"In the midst of an epidemic of gun violence, the American people require serious efforts to reform our weak gun laws, not misguided attempts to appease the powerful gun lobby. The Senate Judiciary Committee should commit today to holding a hearing on real measures to reduce gun violence-like closing the gun show loophole in the Brady background check system, which allows criminals to buy guns from private sellers at gun shows."
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"a national system for the carrying of concealed handguns, commonly referred to as CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) licenses"
No, CCW is a crime . The licenses are called by many different names, but never by the name of a crime.
And why should we have a license to exercise a right?
Do you have a license to write?
To worship?
To remain silent?
To vote?
"The amendment would allow individuals with state-issued CCW licenses to carry their handguns in any state that issues concealed handgun licenses"
And this is a problem why? Someone with a gov't permission slip has at the very minimum a background check, which criminals can't pass.
And by the way, criminals already carry concealed weapons no matter what laws say they can't. Why should good citizens be restricted in their abilities to defend themselves against criminals? Why should citizens have their rights restricted when criminals don't?
From my perspective, it's a problem because not all states license the right to self-protection (Alaska, Arizona, Montana, Vermont, Wisconsin, & Illinois don't), so not all citizens would have equal recognition of their rights if they go to other states.
But it would be very similar to recognizing a driver's license.
Or how about this - every state has to recognize the federal Constitution! If people can worship in any state, or speak in any state, or meet with friends in any state, or remain silent in any state, then they can exercise their other rights wherever they are.
All stats accept each others driver licences as they should under the full credit to other states documents clouse in the constituion. This bill is overdue.
Portraying ccw holders as criminls is low.
This article is one sided, not fact based and insulting.
"It is an outrage that in a year thus far defined by gun violence-from massacres, to the murder of police [...]"
Really? Is that how this year is defined? By a few isolated incidents in the face of already thousands of others by gangs, illegal immigrants, and other criminals? 3 million CCW holders in this country and all of us are defined by a few? Can you say stereotype? Good, I knew ya could.
"Concealed carry laws do not, as their proponents argue, aid police and enhance public safety . Instead, they threaten law enforcement and arm criminals."
How exactly does a law meant to RESTRICT who can buy a gun, who can carry one, and where they can carry it ARM anyone? That's even more of a ridiculous statement than if you had said that driver's licenses enable drunk driving. I'm personally not against having a background check done, having to attend a class on how to use a gun even after spending several years in the Army, including in a special operations unit, or having to fork out $300 to exercise a right that's guaranteed in the Constitution. I did, and was happy to since that's what it took to get my HCP (it's called a Handgun Carry Permit in TN).
But they are right about one thing. Concealed carry laws do not aid police. I would have to have a 20 minute waiting period between being attacked and using my gun to defend myself to aid police. But they do aid me, and they do enhance public safety. 1.5 million times per year they stop crimes from being committed. I'm not quite sure how that doesn't enhance public safety.
"Research by the Violence Policy Center found that from 1996 to 2000, Texas concealed handgun license holders were arrested for weapon-related offenses at a rate 81 percent higher than that of the general population of Texas, aged 21 and older."
First, this study was done by a rabidly biased anti-gun group. Second, I would like to see the data for this report and how they arrived at this "conclusion." Third, I would like to see the arrest vs. conviction rate for CCW and non-CCW holders (notice they said arrested, not convicted). I find it hard to believe that CCW holders in the U.S. as a whole are convicted of gun related crimes at a rate far below the general public, but that it's a different story in Texas. I'll eat my hat if I'm wrong. Hell, I'll eat Paul Helmke's nasty, sweat soaked gym socks if I'm wrong.
"In December of last year, authorities in Tennessee reported that 200 state residents who have permits to carry concealed handguns could have their permits revoked or suspended because they have active restraining orders against them."
Sounds like the law is working. So where is the issue? To read this you would think they shouldn't have had them revoked. Way to go Tennessee.
"[M]any states have weak laws and issue residents permits after only a simple computerized background check."
"[...]closing the gun show loophole in the Brady background check system[.]"
So, the background checks are both the problem and the solution? It sounds like Obama's economic policies to me, where debt is both the problem and the solution.
I know I'm wasting my breath talking to these nuts. But maybe, just maybe, there's someone out there who's on the fence about the issue. Do the research. And don't take the word of the Brady Bunch, or the NRA. Take the word of those who know. Read John Lott's book, study FBI and USDOJ crime statistics. Concealed carry is not the problem. Gangs of illegal immigrants with no regard for our laws are the problem. 80% of crime in the U.S. is attributed to gangs. But Brady continues to ignore facts and instead chooses to lie to those who are to gullible or lazy to do the research for themselves. Don't be one of them.
Hey brady campaign, guess what. Chuck Schumer, your D senator from new york who opposes this bill fully, has an UNRESTRICTED CARRY LICENSE in NEW YORK. This is only reserved for wealthy people so I guess he gets it while no one else can right? Guess who else has one? Diane Feinstein of San Francisco. You no longer get to speak about this issue because you NEVER mention these facts. Do rich people deserve to carry but no tthe common man. Get out of here.