Is it doing away with a permit system completely? While the eventual goal would be to have every state with a Constitutional Carry law, until that happens, most every state that passes a Constitutional Carry Bill will continue to offer the option of acquiring a Concealed Carry permit if an individual should so chose.
What about reciprocity with other states? As mentioned in the previous question, a permit would still be an option and therefore the same rules regarding reciprocity would still apply.
Do you have to be a resident of the state having a Constitutional Carry law in order to take advantage of it? No. In the cases of the three states having it now – Alaska, Arizona and Vermont – one does not need to be a resident to take advantage of the right to carry.
Why would anyone think it is a good idea to get rid of training? Isn’t training a good thing?
We are strong advocates of training here at the National Association for Gun Rights. And yes, it is a very good thing; one can never have enough training.
That being said, ask yourself another question: does government-mandated training really work?
Consider this: In 2009 over 33,000 people died as a result of motor vehicle crashes in the United States. The overwhelming majority of these vehicles were operated by licensed drivers who passed state-level certification training courses. These licensing agencies are dreaded by nearly every human being who has ever dealt with them because they embody everything that is wrong with bureaucracy. Do the standards upheld by government organizations like that make a difference, or do they just create wasteful spending and force people to inconvenience their lives for yet another “fee”?
The simple fact is that taking a test once – or even once a year like most police officers do – does not make someone a better operator of any piece of equipment, regardless of what it is or does. Only a personal dedication to making oneself better will accomplish proficiency; and that is not a task or responsibility for any government body to undertake.
In addition, there are currently 12 states that issue Concealed Carry permits without any “hands-on” training. From a statistical and factual standpoint, those states are in no way less safe than the ones requiring different training.
Wouldn’t this idea make crime rates rise and turn the streets into “the Wild West”?
A common objection to Constitutional Carry is that it would make our streets like “the wild west.” Unfortunately, the Wild West wasn’t even the Wild West as we have come to know it through popular culture. Murder rates were lower per capita in legendary places like Dodge City in the mid-to-late 1800s than they are in present day New York City, Chicago and Washington D.C. So when a politician or someone else uses a phrase such as that, it should be obvious that they have no idea of what they are talking about.
In addition, a very simple principle – which has been stated many times but is worthy of repeating – to consider regarding this question: criminals intent on committing crime don’t pause to consider whether or not they have a “permit” before engaging in illegal behavior. The idea that a person who is a law-abiding citizen would just randomly begin committing crime because they can legally carry a gun is ludicrous and is not supported by evidence of any sort; it is a tactic of fear used by those who think it sounds scary.
I hope that Colorado will go to making our state a Constitutional Carry state as it should be. We should never have to pay for a right no matter the reasonings are. But i am afraid that with a Democatic governor we will not have it in the next 4 years or longer. What can be done to change this and pass Constitutional Carry?
I was as ignorant of the Founders’ original purpose of the Second Amendment as any other public-school (un)taught American could be, so imagine my surprise when I found that the Founders’ explained this most-important Right in Federalist Paper #29. In it, Big Al Hamilton says that, while it is impossible to train EVERY able-bodied American to a Military standard, EVERY able-bodied American should be REQUIRED to prove to the Government, “once or twice a year”, that they have firearms capable of defending themselves and their Nation with, should the need arise. He also says that there should be, at all times, a cadre of Citizens trained to a Military standard for the safety of the States and our Nation, ready to be called up in an instant. Today’s Minutemen, as it were. This is our National Guard. But the biggest surprise was to find that our Founders’ wanted an Armed Citizenry that was, at all times, stronger in force of Arms, than the Federal Government.
Seems that they prized Liberty above the potential Tryanny of a Government that could intimidate the People with force of Arms. After all, the Brits were trying to disarm Americans before the Revolutionary War, for the sole purpose of taking away all of their other Rights, Rights, seen across the British Empire as self-evident. Except here.
Read the FULL text of Patrick Henry’s speech before the Virginian legislature and see if things are any different now!
Since I’ve never met ANYONE in this age that matches our Founders’ WISDOM and COURAGE (They told the world’s mightiest nation to kiss off, then stood toe-to-toe with it until they won!), I won’t argue with the finished product of their struggles.
Only a fool would!
(Seems there’s LOT’S of them, no?)