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U.S. Senate To Vote On National Right-To-Carry
Reciprocity Amendment Early This Week
Contact
Your U.S. Senators TODAY And Urge Them To Support Your Right To
Self-Defense by voting YES on the Thune-Vitter Amendment!
July 21, 2009
The
U.S. Senate is now considering the National Defense Authorization Act
(S. 1390). As a part of the consideration of that legislation,
Senators John Thune (R-SD) and David Vitter (R-LA) will offer an
amendment this week to provide for interstate recognition of
Right-to-Carry permits. There is a very high likelihood of a Senate floor vote on this important and timely pro-gun reform between now and Wednesday.
Now
is the time for Congress to recognize that the right to self-defense
does not end at state lines. Under the Thune-Vitter amendment, an
individual who has met the requirements for a carry permit, or who is
otherwise allowed by his home state's state law to carry a firearm,
would be authorized to carry a firearm for protection in any other
state that issues such permits, subject to the laws of the state in
which the firearm is carried.
Contrary to "states'
rights" claims from opponents who usually favor sweeping federal gun
control, the amendment is a legitimate exercise of Congress's
constitutional power to protect the fundamental rights of citizens
(including the right to keep and bear arms and the right of personal
mobility). States would still have the authority to regulate the
time, place and manner in which handguns are carried.
Expanding
Right-to-Carry will enhance public safety, and certainly poses no
threat to the public. Criminals are deterred from
attempting crimes when they know or suspect that their prospective
victims are armed. A study for the Department of Justice found
that 40 percent of felons had not committed crimes because they feared
the prospective victims were armed. The Thune-Vitter amendment
recognizes that competent, responsible, law-abiding Americans still
deserve our trust and confidence when they cross state lines.
Passing interstate Right-to-Carry legislation will help further reduce
crime by deterring criminals, and -- most important of all -- will
protect the right of honest Americans to protect themselves if
deterrence fails.
The Thune-Vitter Amendment represents
a giant step forward in the protection of the basic right to
self-defense. Its passage will recognize that the rights of
law-abiding Right-to-Carry permit holders should be respected, even
when they travel outside their home state.
Gun
control groups, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's
"Mayors Against Illegal Guns" are running ads trying to scare your
lawmakers and the American people into opposing this crucial
Right-to-Carry reform. It is critical that your U.S. Senators
hear from you immediately.
Please be sure to contact
both of your U.S. Senators today, and urge them to cosponsor and
support the Thune-Vitter interstate right to carry recipocity
amendment. E-mail and call them immediately!
To find contact information for your U.S. Senators, please click here, or call (202) 224-3121.
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