Asbury Park Mayor: Fight Congressional Gun Law

ASBURY PARK, NJ - The Concealed Carry Permit Reciprocity Act of 2017 - which would allow residents who have concealed carry [permits in other states to travel lawfully with their weapons in New Jersey - is not a good idea, said Asbury Park Mayor John B. Moor, whose city has had its share of gun violence.

"This could make New Jersey subject to other states' laws that are much weaker than our laws," Moor said. "This is totally inappropriate."

The bill also includes a measure to allow concealed carry permit owners to carry their weapons into school zones, which is currently prohibited.

At least a half-dozen New Jersey towns have adopted resolutions opposing the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, which would require all states to recognize permits issued by other states, including ones with less stringent laws. It's currently under consideration in the House of Representatives. Moor asked Asbury officials to consider adopting their own resolution opposing the measure.

New Jersey is a "may issue" state. Local law enforcement has discretion on issuing concealed carry permits. Those applying for a permit must demonstrate an urgent need to carry a weapon and pass a safety course on par with firearms training required of police officers before one is issued.

The resolutions are largely symbolic and would not preempt federal law. Still, representatives of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, which provided the model resolutions to the towns, hope that if enough resolutions are adopted, legislators will take note.

The House Judiciary Committee voted (last week) to send a "dangerous" bill on guns, known as concealed carry reciprocity, to the House floor, where it could be voted on at any time, said the Brady Committee on Gun Violence.

"The Committee's vote was on party lines," the Brady statement reads. "In finalizing the bill, the committee rejected proposed amendments (that) included measures to establish a minimum age to carry concealed guns, protect state laws that prohibit carrying concealed guns in bars and require background checks for all gun sales."

The bill, introduced by Republican Congressman Richard Hudson of North Carolina, would require all states to honor a permit to carry a concealed gun from any other state, regardless of the issuing state's procedures to ensure that the permit-holder can safely use a gun." The bill would allow people in one state to "shop around" and apply for a concealed carry permit in less restrictive states like Utah where persons can apply for a concealed carry permit simply by going online, the Brady statement continues.

More than 15 million people already have permits to carry concealed guns in the U.S.. "This bill flouts state law and allows anyone to carry a gun at any time anywhere, regardless of existing state laws that establish procedures for how and when a concealed weapon can be obtained and carried." said Kris Brown, co-President of the Brady Campaign. "We already have an epidemic of gun violence in America, and adding more concealed weapons in more sensitive places, like subways, hospitals, airports, restaurants and schools creates a nationwide public safety disaster," she said..

Violence crime rates increase in states with weak laws on carrying hidden guns, according to a recent study by Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research. Brady Co-President Avery Gardiner added, "Too many members of Congress prioritize the interests of the corporate gun lobby over the their constituents' lives. You can be certain that we'll work with Americans across the country to make them answer for this irresponsible vote during the 2018 election cycle."

The National Rifle Association supports the reciprocity measure. Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA's lobbying arm, has said, “The current patchwork of state and local laws is confusing for even the most conscientious and well-informed concealed carry permit holders. This confusion often leads to law-abiding gun owners running afoul of the law when they exercise their right to self-protection while traveling or temporarily living away from home.”

Opponents point out that the federal bill could create problems for law enforcement, because police would need to know the laws of each person's home state. Some require permits to carry a gun; some don't.

This bill amends the federal criminal code to allow a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another state that allows individuals to carry concealed firearms.

A qualified individual is one who is eligible to possess, transport, or receive a firearm under federal law; would carry a valid photo identification document and carry a valid concealed carry permit issued by, or be eligible to carry a concealed firearm in, his or her state of residence, according to the U.S. Congressional website.

The bill also indicates a qualified individual who lawfully carries or possesses a concealed handgun in another state could not be subject to the federal prohibition on possessing a firearm in a school zone and may carry or possess the concealed handgun in federally owned lands that are open to the public.

Supporters include the states of Arkansas, Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Rep John Lewis, D.-GA., Nancy Pelosi, D-CA., and Minority Whip Steny Hayer, D-MD., call upon Congressional leadership to allow gun control measures to move forward. Photograph by Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press.