RKBA is a DKos group of second amendment supporters who also have progressive and liberal values. We don't think that being a liberal means one has to be anti-gun. Some of us are extreme in our second amendment views (no licensing, no restrictions on small arms) and some of us are more moderate (licensing, restrictions on small arms.) Moderate or extreme, we hold one common belief: more gun control equals lost elections. We don't want a repeat of 1994. We are an inclusive group: if you see the Second Amendment as safeguarding our right to keep and bear arms individually, then come join us in our conversation. If you are against the right to keep and bear arms, come join our conversation. We look forward to seeing you, as long as you engage in a civil discussion. RKBA stands for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Today's open thread will deal primarily with HR 822.
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide a national standard in accordance with which nonresidents of a State may carry concealed firearms in the State.
...
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States protects the fundamental right of an individual to keep and bear arms, including for purposes of individual self-defense.
(2) The Supreme Court of the United States has recognized this right in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, and in the case of McDonald v. City of Chicago, has recognized that the right is protected against State infringement by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(3) The Congress has the power to pass legislation to protect against infringement of all rights protected under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(4) The right to bear arms includes the right to carry arms for self-defense and the defense of others.
(5) The Congress has enacted legislation of national scope authorizing the carrying of concealed firearms by qualified active and retired law enforcement officers.
(6) Forty-eight States provide by statute for the issuance to individuals of permits to carry concealed firearms, or allow the carrying of concealed firearms for lawful purposes without the need for a permit.
(7) The overwhelming majority of individuals who exercise the right to carry firearms in their own States and other States have proven to be law-abiding, and such carrying has been demonstrated to provide crime prevention or crime resistance benefits for the licensees and for others.
(8) The Congress finds that preventing the lawful carrying of firearms by individuals who are traveling outside their home State interferes with the constitutional right of interstate travel, and harms interstate commerce.
(9) Among the purposes of this Act is the protection of the rights, privileges, and immunities guaranteed to a citizen of the United States by the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
(10) The Congress, therefore, should provide for national recognition, in States that issue to their own citizens licenses or permits to carry concealed handguns, of other State permits or licenses to carry concealed handguns.
The bills sponsor: Rep Stearns, Cliff [FL-6] (introduced 2/18/2011)
The bills cosponsors are:
Rep Adams, Sandy [FL-24] - 3/8/2011
Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] - 3/16/2011
Rep Bachmann, Michele [MN-6] - 3/2/2011
Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] - 3/8/2011
Rep Barton, Joe [TX-6] - 3/2/2011
Rep Benishek, Dan [MI-1] - 3/3/2011
Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] - 3/11/2011
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 3/3/2011
Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] - 3/2/2011
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 3/2/2011
Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] - 3/15/2011
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 3/2/2011
Rep Canseco, Francisco "Quico" [TX-23] - 3/8/2011
Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] - 3/2/2011
Rep Chaffetz, Jason [UT-3] - 3/3/2011
Rep Coffman, Mike [CO-6] - 3/2/2011
Rep Cole, Tom [OK-4] - 3/2/2011
Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] - 3/11/2011
Rep Crenshaw, Ander [FL-4] - 3/15/2011
Rep Critz, Mark S. [PA-12] - 3/17/2011
Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] - 3/3/2011
Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 3/16/2011
Rep Diaz-Balart, Mario [FL-21] - 3/2/2011
Rep Duncan, John J., Jr. [TN-2] - 3/2/2011
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] - 3/8/2011
Rep Fleming, John [LA-4] - 3/11/2011
Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] - 3/8/2011
Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] - 3/2/2011
Rep Gibbs, Bob [OH-18] - 3/15/2011
Rep Gibson, Christopher P. [NY-20] - 3/2/2011
Rep Gingrey, Phil [GA-11] - 3/2/2011
Rep Granger, Kay [TX-12] - 3/3/2011
Rep Graves, Sam [MO-6] - 3/2/2011
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 3/10/2011
Rep Griffith, H. Morgan [VA-9] - 3/15/2011
Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] - 3/3/2011
Rep Harris, Andy [MD-1] - 3/10/2011
Rep Heinrich, Martin [NM-1] - 3/3/2011
Rep Heller, Dean [NV-2] - 3/2/2011
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 3/3/2011
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 3/3/2011
Rep Huelskamp, Tim [KS-1] - 3/2/2011
Rep Jenkins, Lynn [KS-2] - 3/8/2011
Rep Johnson, Sam [TX-3] - 3/14/2011
Rep Johnson, Timothy V. [IL-15] - 3/3/2011
Rep Jordan, Jim [OH-4] - 3/11/2011
Rep Kinzinger, Adam [IL-11] - 3/14/2011
Rep Kissell, Larry [NC-8] - 3/3/2011
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 3/8/2011
Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] - 3/2/2011
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 3/8/2011
Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] - 3/14/2011
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 3/8/2011
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] - 3/8/2011
Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] - 3/3/2011
Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] - 3/16/2011
Rep Miller, Gary G. [CA-42] - 3/3/2011
Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] - 3/2/2011
Rep Mulvaney, Mick [SC-5] - 3/8/2011
Rep Nugent, Richard [FL-5] - 3/17/2011
Rep Owens, William L. [NY-23] - 3/2/2011
Rep Palazzo, Steven M. [MS-4] - 3/15/2011
Rep Pence, Mike [IN-6] - 3/2/2011
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 3/3/2011
Rep Petri, Thomas E. [WI-6] - 3/8/2011
Rep Pompeo, Mike [KS-4] - 3/17/2011
Rep Posey, Bill [FL-15] - 3/3/2011
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] - 3/3/2011
Rep Rivera, David [FL-25] - 3/11/2011
Rep Rogers, Mike D. [AL-3] - 3/2/2011
Rep Rogers, Mike J. [MI-8] - 3/14/2011
Rep Ross, Dennis [FL-12] - 3/11/2011
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 3/2/2011
Rep Schmidt, Jean [OH-2] - 3/2/2011
Rep Shuler, Heath [NC-11] - 2/18/2011
Rep Thornberry, Mac [TX-13] - 3/16/2011
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] - 3/16/2011
Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-3] - 3/8/2011
Rep West, Allen B. [FL-22] - 3/3/2011
Rep Westmoreland, Lynn A. [GA-3] - 3/2/2011
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 3/8/2011
Rep Wittman, Robert J. [VA-1] - 3/10/2011
Rep Young, Don [AK] - 3/2/2011