H. R. 822 and the NRA

The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011.

 At first glance, this seems to be a good idea. It would allow anyone with a CCW permit to exercise the right to concealed carry in any other state with a CCW permit law.

This is where we run into problems. 

First, the Second Amendment does not require permits to exercise your right to self-defense.

Second, this Act would require the CCW holder to know and obey the laws of every state he or she travels to. There is no provision to normalize CCW laws among the states. Actually, this respects state's rights, but provides a cat's cradle of laws that can catch the unwary.

Third, CCW holders still cannot protect themselves in the People's Republik of Ill-Annoys.

Finally, by enacting this law, the foundation is laid for a federal CCW law that would supersede all state laws, similar to how driver's licenses are now handled. Of course, this would entail a national database of CCW licensees.

Do we want to make life marginally easier for cross-state CCW while opening the door to a national registry?

 I don't. The NRA seems to think this is a dandy idea, though.

What would this Act do to the small but growing number of states that have enacted Constitutional Carry?

NRA-ILA GRASSROOTS ALERT Vol. 18, No. 37      09/09/11 Hearing Scheduled for H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011 Click here to vote in this week's poll. For months we have been reporting on a critically important bill:  H.R. 822—the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011.  This vital NRA-backed legislation, introduced earlier this year by Congressmen Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) will enable millions of permit holders to exercise their right to self-defense while traveling outside their home states.  Thanks to much hard work and action taken by NRA and our members, H.R. 822 has now garnered 242 cosponsors in the U.S. House.  On Tuesday, September 13, the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security will hold a hearing on the bill. There is currently only one state (Illinois) that has no clear legal way for individuals to carry concealed firearms for self-defense.  Forty states have permit systems that make it possible for any law-abiding person to obtain a permit, while most of the others have discretionary permit systems. (Vermont has never required a permit.)