No matter how many bills are considered in Congress, there always will be two distinct camps of gun-owners in America.
There will be responsible citizens who abide by the law, and there will be criminals whose actions will not be guided by the law. That’s just the way it is.
But it never will prevent national lawmakers and lobbyists from tackling weapons legislation on a regular basis.
(A recent) argument was whether to allow properly permitted concealed-carry gun owners to tote their weapons in any of the 48 states that allow concealed carry. The measure received a solid majority of support in the Senate — 58-39 — but two votes shy of the 60 needed to add the measure to a defense bill.
Naturally, gun-control advocates were elated; gun-rights groups were disappointed.
We’re not sure of all the hullaballoo, however. Currently, if a Kansas gun-owner obtains a permit for concealed carry, that same permit allows them to carry in a number of other states, as well. If the same person obtains an identical permit from Utah, that permit covers the rest of the 48 states already allowing concealed carry.
So all this measure would have done was eliminate one of the two permits needed and, in the process, simplified the process. It wouldn’t have changed the fact each state — and each local jurisdiction, for that matter — can set its own rules for concealed carry. In some places, one has to have a gun in the trunk. Others allow it in the glove compartment.
Responsible gun owners already are aware of the variances in laws — and follow them. And like we mentioned already, criminals couldn’t care less what any law states.
This issue will be back. We would encourage at least two more senators to get on board by the time for a common-sense decision to simplify concealed-carry rules.
— The Hays Daily News
