Action needed on H.R. 822, National Right-To-Carry bill

by Jim Irvine

H.R. 822, the National Right to Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011 would make concealed handgun licenses valid in in all states that allow concealed carry, similar to how your drivers license works. Bill sponsor Clifford Stearns (R-FL) has been building support for his bill and now it's time for some grassroots involvement.

Action needed:

H.R. 822 currently has 244 co-sponsors, including 210 Republicans and 34 Democrats. Has your Congressman co-sponsored this legislation?

If you are not sure, you can find out here:

http://www.capwiz.com/buckeyefirearms/issues/bills/?bill=46737631

If your Congressman has not co-sponsored H.R. 822, contact their office and request that they sign on. We need more co-sponsors to show support and help bring this important legislation up for a vote.

If your Congressman has already co-sponsored H.R. 822, contact their office and thank them for their support. Also ask that they continue to encourage their fellow law makers to join the effort and to let leadership know they want to vote on this legislation before the end of the year.

Many states already honor any valid concealed weapons license. States like Indiana, Montana and New Mexico simply honor other states licenses. Most states have a reciprocity system, where agreements are reached between states that allow residents to carry in the opposite state. Ohio is one such state, and with the new agreement between Ohio and Louisiana, residents of these two states can finally travel armed in each others' state.

Some states refuse to honor any other states' license. New York and California are such states. They issue licenses to political friends and celebrities, but not to regular citizens.

Ohio has many agreements, but is missing Georgia making a drive to Florida difficult. Indiana and Pennsylvania have different requirements and thus no agreement has been signed. This makes life difficult for those who live near the border and frequently travel or even work across state lines.

You do not need to do research to know your driver's license or marriage license is still valid when you cross state lines. A license issued in one state is valid in others. There is no reason that a concealed handgun license should be any different.

As with driving, all persons must still comply with the state they are in, regardless of what state issued their license. Such laws can vary significantly and it is the responsibility of the gun owner to know and comply with the law of any state they travel in or through.

Jim Irvine Is the Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman.