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From staff and wire reports
Some survivors and families of Virginia Tech shooting victims are asking their U.S. senators to reject a proposed national standard for carrying concealed weapons.
In a full-page ad in Monday's Richmond Times-Dispatch, about 30 families and individuals urged Democrats Jim Webb and Mark Warner to vote against the so-called Thune amendment. The measure, sponsored by South Dakota Sen. John Thune, would allow people licensed to carry concealed weapons in their home states to legally carry their weapons in other states that have similar concealed-carry rules.
The ad contends the proposal would let residents from states with weak concealed-weapons laws bring their handguns into Virginia.
Lori Haas of Richmond, whose daughter Emily was wounded during the April 2007 massacre in which a Virginia Tech student killed 32 people before committing suicide, said she's appalled by the proposal.
Jessica Smith, Webb's communications director, released a statement Monday evening:
"Sen. Webb has supported legislation in the past to allow citizens who hold a concealed-carry permit in one state to carry a firearm into other states that grant similar concealed-carry permits.
"The amendment offered by Sen. Thune applies only to individuals who are not prohibited by federal law from possessing, transporting or receiving a firearm. It also conditions reciprocity on an individual's full compliance with the laws of the state in which a firearm would be carried.
"While Senator Webb is inclined to support the legislation, he has had discussions with Senator Thune about making adjustments in order to enhance and strengthen it."
This story was compiled from reports by The Associated Press and Pilot staff writer Denise Watson Batts.
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I can already carry legally in 33 states!
My Florida carry permit allows me to carry a gun legally in Florida and 32 other states! All this federal bill does is extend my priveledge to vitually every state. You don't have to be a Florida resident to have a Florida permit although some states won't grant the priveledge to non-resident permit holders. I own a home in both Florida and IL so I am a Florida resident technically even though I spend most of my time elsewhere.
Why a Permit anyway?
I don't need a permit to exercise any other Rights so why would I need one to carry a firearm?
Heck, here in Maryland you cannot carry anything open or concealed unless you're politically connected with the Democrat Party.
(And no I'm not kidding!)
Gun Law
Pass the law. I want my gun regardless of the terrible traegy at Virginia Tech. Tighter or "NO" gun laws would not have prevented that massacre. I want my rights to carry guns. It's the law! Make it so I can carry my gun into all states without being a criminal.
Here's the ad from the Richmond-Times
http://mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/downloads/pdf/vtech_thune.pdf
Notice it's paid for by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Action Fund. The line about "Virginians value the laws we pass" I think is the most important part. It's a well done ad, but I think it's about as effective as what you'd see on TV during election season. The more people talk about it, the more the message is spread, so from that POV it's done great. My only problem with the Thune Am. itself is one can CC "if they either have a valid permit or if, under their state of residence, they are entitled to do so." In states like AK or VT, there is no permit required for CC, so hypothetically all you would need to CC anywhere in the country is a AK or VT ID. Reminds me of people who claim TX as their home of record to avoid paying state taxes.
Mayors against illegal guns
So the Bloomin'idiot Mayor of NYC still hasn't gotten it through his head that he and his opinions about guns are unwelcome in VA?
Gabby - dont be hatin
I suspect that the idiot Mayor of NYC believes that VA guns are unwelcome in NYC.
"Virginia is for lovers - and New York City gunslingers.
Hundreds of guns sold in the Cavalier State wound up in the hands of criminals here last year, even more than the previous year, the feds said Wednesday.
Virginia was the source of 372 guns used to commit crimes in the city. That's more than were sold in New York or any other state along the so-called Iron Pipeline.
Officials have long contended that lax gun laws in states running south along Interstate 95 account for much of the illegal firepower in the city."
Do some research. Virginia
Do some research. Virginia is not as bad as he wants everyone to believe. According to the same source he uses, 822 firearms traced in Illinois came from Indiana. Also according to the same source, 793 firearms traced in California came from Arizona and 451 from Nevada.
Wait a second, the same source reports over 1600 guns used in gun crimes in the state of NY, are sourced from NY state. Wait, NY is the number 1 supplier of guns, in gun crimes in it's own state. How can this be?
New York also supplies about 50% of the guns used in gun crimes in New Jersey.
When the mayor of New York does anything to keep his criminals out of Virginia, I'll concern myself with his cesspool of a city.
Mayor Loonberg should stay
Mayor Loonberg should stay home in NY mind his own business. He is about as welcome in Virginia as a case of hemmoroids.
We're number one
The United States leads the Western democracies in gun deaths. Why should we stop now?
What do you suggest?
Chris,
Should we ban all handguns? I'd take a shot in the dark (Pun intended) and guess you're a shill for the Brady Campaign. (Formerly the Coalition to Ban Handguns)
Or do we ban handguns and firearms with 'Evil features'?