Federal legislation that would compel every state to honor concealed-carry permits from other states is back.
It seems like this lousy idea just won’t go away.
We urge Colorado’s Democratic Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet to and oppose the measure this go-round.
In 2009, they of a version of this idea, much to our consternation.
The core of the problem is this: The measures — and there are two of them — would mandate that any state issuing concealed-carry permits recognize all out-of-state permits, regardless of how easy it might be to get permits in other states.
That would mean that states that tightly regulate who obtains a concealed-carry permit would have to allow people with permits from states with relatively lax standards to carry concealed weapons when they visit.
It’s hard to imagine how that could be construed as anything but an effort to undermine states’ rights, but the proponents of the measures, unbelievably, claim their legislation would strengthen states’ rights.
Say what?
“I think we’ve succeeded in striking an effective balance here with a bill that expands our right to bear arms but doesn’t institute a heavy-handed federal permitting system,” , R-La, a sponsor of one of the measures.
“This doesn’t force states to change their laws and it doesn’t force individuals to go through yet another permitting process — the best solution to streamline a complicated problem,” Vitter said.
No, states technically wouldn’t have to change their laws, but they’d be forced to recognize permits issued by other states, some of which make it a lot easier to get them. So their own laws would in fact be undermined.
In Colorado, someone seeking a concealed-carry permit has to have a background check and take a firearms safety course before applying to the local sheriff’s office.
It’s a good system, but one that seems to be constantly by the gun lobby both at the state and federal level.
Not every state is as careful as Colorado in vetting people who get permits to carry concealed weapons. In effect, federal lawmakers are being asked to weaken the safeguards that states such as Colorado have deemed appropriate.
A version of the federal legislation has , which means the action to come will be in the Senate.
We hope Sens. Udall and Bennet will vote against these measures when one of them comes up for a vote.
Colorado’s approach to public safety should not be undermined by a bill designed to make the lowest common denominator the new standard.
