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Published Jun 6, 2017 at 4:26 pm (Updated Jun 6, 2017)

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There has been so much written over the past few weeks regarding George Zimmerman as a talking point referring to the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. The bill, also known as H.R. 38 would allow people from states with very lax requirements to carry hidden loaded guns in states with much higher standards, like New Jersey.

No matter what you think of the Zimmerman case, it was a horrible, unfortunate situation where no one won. We can re-litigate it to death but the facts are Trayvon Martin is dead and George Zimmermans life has spiraled out of control. If H.R. 38, Concealed Carry Reciprocity is passed into law these types of incidents will be more prevalent in our country. That alone is great reason to oppose this dangerous legislation.

In New Jersey to conceal carry a gun in public, a person needs to apply for a permit, submit 3 letters of character reference, prove under oath a justifiable need for the firearm and complete several firearms training courses. As a result of our strong gun laws, we have the 5th lowest number of gun deaths per capita in the U. S.

Concealed Carry Reciprocity would force New Jersey to accept concealed carry weapon permits issued by states with more lax requirements. Here are some reasons this is not a good idea:

Twenty-one states issue permits to convicted stalkers.

Twenty states allow individuals who have been convicted of crimes of violence to obtain concealed carry permits

In Texas alone, more than 400 criminals (including armed robbers and rapists) were issued permits between 1995 2000, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Florida has more than 1 million concealed carry permit holders. An Orlando Sentinel analysis of a six-month period in Florida reported that CCW permits were issued to more than 1,400 felons, 216 people with outstanding warrants, 128 people with active domestic violence injunctions against them, and six registered sex offenders.

National concealed carry reciprocity legislation is opposed by key law enforcement organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence and many others. The District Attorney of New York City, Cyrus Vance Jr. recently remarked, Its a terrible idea, we dont want shootouts in the middle of Manhattan.

There is no credible evidence to show that lax concealed carry laws reduce crime. Claims that guns are used defensively millions of times a year have also been widely discredited. It is rare when a gun is used in self-defense.

I urge readers to contact their Congressional Representative and urge them to oppose the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, H.R. 38. You can reach Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen at 973-984-0711 and Josh Gottheimer at 888-216-5646.

The mission of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence is to create a safer America by cutting gun deaths in half by 2025. The strategy centers on the idea of saving lives by keeping guns out of dangerous peoples hands.

Sue Hannon

President, Sussex County Chapter

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Sparta, NJ

Read more here:
Concealed carry reciprocity is dangerous for New Jersey - The Sparta Independent