New Ad Calls Out Rep. Issa for Backing Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill, Threatening Public Safety
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and retired NASA astronaut Captain Mark Kelly, released a new ad in California’s 49th District to hold Representative Darrell Issa accountable for backing the gun lobby’s dangerous concealed carry reciprocity legislation.
The ad, which will reach tens of thousands of voters in Rep. Issa’s district who have indicated that they are concerned about gun safety, highlights that even after two of the worst mass shootings in the country’s history Issa is working to weaken gun laws. It goes on to note that Issa has previously accepted thousands of dollars from the gun lobby and is supporting their agenda. That includes being a cosponsor of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 that would allow dangerous individuals – like stalkers, domestic abusers, people who have committed violent crimes, and people with no firearms training at all – to carry loaded, hidden guns in public places.
On Wednesday morning, the House Judiciary Committee, of which Issa is a member, will take up the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. The bill is opposed by law enforcement leaders across the country who say it will put officers at risk and make communities less safe. It creates a threat to public safety by forcing states with strong concealed carry laws to honor permits from states with weak or nonexistent concealed carry laws, undermining current state permitting standards.
“Right now Darrell Issa is more concerned about pleasing gun lobbyists that send him checks than listening to his constituents who want safer communities,” said Peter Ambler, Executive Director, Giffords. “That means weakening our nation’s gun laws and moving us backwards. It means making it easier for dangerous individuals to get a permit to walk down any street in Americans with a loaded, hidden firearm. That means putting the lives and livelihoods of law enforcement professionals at risk. But we are here to show that voters in California and across the country don’t want feckless leaders beholden to gun manufacturers. They want bold leaders who are ready to move forward and make progress against the daily toll of gun violence.”
Passage of this new law would have severe consequences for Californians, as detailed in this Giffords fact sheet.
Currently, states have the right to choose which states’ concealed carry permits they recognize, which is important because the requirements to carry hidden, loaded guns in public vary drastically from state to state. If the concealed carry reciprocity bill passes, that will no longer be the case, and California will be forced to allow unlicensed, unvetted people from out of state to carry guns in public places.
As of today, 12 states—including California’s neighbor, Arizona—do not require any permit or training to carry hidden, loaded guns in public. If this bill becomes federal law, almost any person from these states would be automatically authorized to carry concealed in California, regardless of whether that person meets California’s standards for what it takes to carry a concealed gun in public. Current California law does not allow those with concealed carry permits issued by other states to carry in California. If the concealed carry reciprocity bill passes, California would be federally mandated to honor the weak or nonexistent concealed carry standards of other states, making California less safe and putting law enforcement at risk.
Related Resources from Giffords: Visit this page on the Giffords website to read more about Concealed Carry Reciprocity. Highlighted resources include:
- Federally Mandated Concealed Carry Reciprocity : This fact sheet provides a summary of H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.
- 7 Myths About Concealed Carry, Debunked : Here are 7 myths about concealed carry reciprocity the gun lobby wants you to believe, and the facts that bust them.
- What’s Training Got To Do With It : This post explains how training standards for concealed firearms permits vary dramatically from state to state.
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