Federal CCW Reciprocity May Come At A Price
Virginia – -(AmmoLand.com)- Federal CCW Reciprocity might even sound like a good idea. If the Feds made every state honor the CCW licenses of every other state.You could carry virtually everywhere, right?
Well, while we all desire the freedom to carry everywhere we go, and while none of us likes putting up with other states that won’t recognize our permits, this amendment is simply not what it appears to be.
Hear me out. I know some of our supporters like this idea, and I can understand that. But there’s more going on here than you may realize.
First of all, once you let federal bureaucrats control CCW permits for all 50 states, the same bureaucrats will control the content of those permits.
Understand this: Once you’ve handed the reins over to Washington to federalize CCWs nationwide, the gun grabbers would only need to amend this one piece of code to strip the whole nation of its gun rights — because that code determines the CCW rules of all 50 states.
And what’s the easiest place to start with such a broadly-written bill like this? Legislate by the least common denominator: Do you want to see New York-style CCW in your home state?
And those of you with New England-style rules who enjoy carrying in schools, restaurants, and bars: Do you want those liberties to disappear?
While it may not happen THIS YEAR, it will be a constant threat and a real danger every year.
In truth, this is exactly the opposite of what Montana did with its groundbreaking “Montana Made” legislation. Instead of telling the feds to get out of the firearm regulation business, national reciprocity invites them in. That’s not a good thing.
Second, if this bill passes, the feds will have a complete list of CCW holders for all 50 states. How else would they make the states enforce CCWs nationwide? Do you want the ATF to have a list of every CCW holder in America? I know I don’t.
This amendment is a question of power and regulation — and of stripping rights from states and giving them to the feds.
Finally, there is the problem that insider lobbyists want to attach this amendment to a bill at the top of the homosexual lobby’s priority list — H.R. 1913, the so-called Hate Crimes bill that some critics believe will empower federal agents to regulate speech deemed to be “violent.”
H.R. 1913 criminalizes speech and makes your personal beliefs a federal matter. I doubt it would pass without a good dose of political chicanery.
And that’s why gay rights groups are trying to buy off some pro-gun elected officials (many of whom publicly oppose H.R. 1913) with this clever amendment nonsense in a crooked ploy to pass a bad bill that wouldn’t go anywhere without their support.
Here’s how it works:
Those who want to control private speech have prostituted insider gun lobbyists to divide opposition to H.R. 1913 by hoodwinking gun owners into jumping on board.
Now those who would ordinarily want to protect free speech and keep the federal government from regulating thought are being pressured to support an ostensibly “pro-gun” bill…that’s not pro-gun at all.
And worse, those who are pushing this amendment have successfully hidden its true nature from so many pro-gun voters who are telling their Senators to vote for it.
Suffice to say: Unlike the NRA, we are extremely hesitant to jump in bed and cuddle with gay rights groups and institutional gun lobbyists to pass a bill that — no matter how attractive it looks on the outside — poses so much danger to gun owners.
Wayne LaPierre’s lackeys may think this is a cute move, but we’re not falling for this sirens’ call. This is all just a trick to make us choose between free speech and guns — and yet the consolation prize they offer promises only tyranny.
Read Luke’s blog here to read more about this controversial move, and don’t be afraid to join the conversation by leaving a comment.
In liberty, Dudley Brown Executive Director National Association for Gun Rights For Liberty, Mike McHugh President Virginia Gun Owners Coaliton www.vgoc.orgIf you are NOT member of NAGR and VGOC please contact me at president@vgoc.org
Regardless, please find your congressman at www.vgoc.org under contact lawmakers and ask him or her to vote NO on the H.R. 1913
About:
Virginia Gun Owners Coalition is Virginia’s only no-compromise, non-partisan gun lobby patterned after Gun Owners of America on Capitol Hill. VGOC is a non-profit tax-exempt organization under 501(c)(4) of the IRS code. Because we lobby politicians to protect and defend the 2nd Amendment, contributions are not tax deductible for IRS purposes.