States' rights over federal preemption of those rights is a large part of the argument of those that want to curb abortions and implementation of the Affordable Healthcare Reform for America Act, but when it comes to gun rights the positions change.
The NRA is staunchly behind and lobbying for passage of what is called the National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, H.R. 822. The U.S. House of Representatives is about to hold hearings on the bill that would eliminate every state’s right to set minimum standards for carrying a loaded, concealed firearm within its borders.
Currently, a gun owner from a state in which it is perfectly legal to carry a concealed, loaded weapon, would be in violation of another state's laws that precludes that right. H.R. 822 would change that.
The NRA chief lobbyist Chris Cox, recently stated his organization's position on the legislation in a pre-Labor Day interview with the Daily Caller.
"This Labor Day weekend, many families will pack up the car for one last road trip to the beach, lake or park before summer ends. Unfortunately, many of them will have to check their right to self-defense at the state border. Thankfully, there is legislation making its way through Congress that would fix this."
Nationalizing gun permits is the end game of the legislation which flies in the face of the principle at the heart of the states' rights argument.
Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a bi-partisan organization created by the mayors of New York and Boston, has begun a new initiative entitled "Our Lives Our Laws" and is seeking support from communities throughout the United States.
Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of N.Y.C. is the public face of the Mayors organization which includes mayors from more than 600 cities and towns across the country. It gained steam after the tragic shooting of Rep. Gabby Gifford in Tucson, Arizona early in 2011.
In regard to H.R. 822, Bloomberg has sent an email blast to ask Americans for help in opposing the bill, by sending emails to their members of Congress registering their opinion. The mayor believes that if the legislation is passed he would lose the right to protect the people of his city in a way that makes sense based on local factors, including the crime rate.
All major cities in the country deal with crimes committed with guns and Bloomberg's city had more than most. His public call to incarcerate NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress after he violated N.Y.C's loaded weapon law was his way of gaining the attention of gun owners who might not know how strict the city's law is enforced.
With the creation of Our Lives Our Laws, Bloomberg wants to call attention to what the proposed federal legislation would accomplish, by concentrating on the types of individuals that would be carrying concealed and loaded weapons.
"Domestic abusers, drug addicts, stalkers, people with violent arrest records and even people with absolutely no training who have never held a gun before could be granted a concealed gun permit in another state, and your state would have to honor it -- no matter what."
The online petition drive is designed to counter the lobbying efforts of the well funded NRA lobbyists who have had their way for almost 20 years. That is how long it has been since Congress had the votes to pass gun control legislation.
The initiative to oppose H.R. 822 can be found here, for those interested to learn more or to take part in the petition drive.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
Comments
Yet another emotional claim devoid of fact
Yet another emotional claim devoid of fact
"We the people"
Broad National Support for H.R. 822
Not True - Read The Constitution
"Mayors Against Illegal Guns"
From nraila.org and I quote:
So True
So True
I just love the lies about
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