Now, You Can Have a Federal Gun Permit to Carry Your Handgun Anywhere

Now, by Decree of The Dictator, you can have a Federal handgun permit to carry in every state. At least you could if I was a real dictator! Unfortunately, this will never happen because the NRA is too stubborn to do anything right.

Instead of wasting their time fighting reasonable gun control legislation, the NRA should be in favor of gun control as long as it is Federal and comes with a Federal carry permit. Of course, the NRA would oppose federal standards which would likely have to be higher than those of many states.

Just after writing this, I found out that a bill came to a vote in the Senate that would have allowed someone with a permit to carry a concealed handgun in one state to carry it in 48 states.

A strong majority of the Senate, in a 58-39 vote, supported the measure but was two votes short of the 60 votes needed to add the measure as an amendment to a defense bill. Opponents said it would force states with tough concealed weapon permit restrictions to let in gun carriers from states with weak restrictions. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California said “It’s extremely dangerous policy”, noting that California demands fingerprinting, federal background checks, a training course, and verification by a local sheriff before issuing a permit to carry a concealed gun.

The bill may have passed if it increased restrictions to equal those of the toughest states. I’m not concerned about meeting those restrictions, I just want to be able to carry my gun anywhere I want. Unfortunately, the NRA has a “don’t give an inch” policy instead of a policy of negotiation.

Handguns should be controlled by a Federal permit which would allow a permit holder to carry a concealed handgun anywhere in the US. With a few reasonable changes, everyone would be a lot safer. Some pistol license requirements should be relaxed and others should be increased. Handgun permits should be restricted to people who meet tougher qualifications to carry a handgun but make it easier for people to obtain without proof that it is needed. People who want a handgun, but may not be able to prove financial necessity should still be allowed to obtain a permit. People with criminal convictions and psychiatric histories should not be allowed to obtain or carry handguns.

I have a CCW business carry permit which allows me to carry my handgun anywhere in New York State, but not New York City and not in any other state. I would like to be able to carry my gun anywhere I want. If I need it for protection in New York, why would I not need it in other states as well? If I can be trusted to carry a concealed handgun in New York State, why not in other states, and why not in New York City?

I used to work in the diamond business with my father and he wanted me to travel around the country to sell diamonds to jewelry stores. I never did because of the danger involved. Sometimes, diamond salespeople get robbed while visiting jewelry stores in other states. I have a friend who traveled to Florida to sell colored stones to jewelry stores. He was staying at the house of a friend and when he left in the morning to go to a jewelry store he was approached by a robber when he walked out of the house. Although he gave all his diamonds to the robber, he was shot in the stomach anyway. Fortunately, he survived.

Until 2004, even police officers were not allowed to carry their handguns to other states. At least, they can do that now. Why shouldn’t you or I have a Federal permit to carry a concealed handgun anywhere we go?