Title
Opposing the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, as introduced in the United States Congress.
Body
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires that in order for an individual to carry a concealed firearm in public, he or she must be authorized to carry a concealed firearm by an appropriate agency, and while carrying a concealed firearm, must also be carrying a permit issued by that agency; and
WHEREAS, Throughout most of Pennsylvania, local law enforcement agencies are responsible for determining whether or not an applicant meets Pennsylvania's minimum standards, as set by the Pennsylvania State Legislature, to be issued a concealed carry permit; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania law prohibits the issuance of concealed carry permits to individuals who have been convicted of a drug or alcohol offense, found to be mentally ill, a fugitive of the law, or deemed to be a risk to the public safety of the citizens of this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has established reciprocity agreements with 25 other states, acknowledging our similar permit issuing standards, and agreeing to honor the concealed carry permits issued by those states within our own borders, so long as their permitting standards remain equivalent to our own; and
WHEREAS, The United States Congress is considering legislation, The National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, which would require Pennsylvania to accept the concealed carry permits issued by any state in the nation - whether or not Pennsylvania has negotiated a reciprocity agreement with those states, and regardless of whether or not those states utilize permitting guidelines similar to our own; and
WHEREAS, The proposed legislation would undermine the authority of Pennsylvania law enforcement officers who are on the front lines of the struggle against gun violence, by potentially allowing Pennsylvania residents who have been denied a concealed carry permit, who have had their permit revoked, or who would be otherwise ineligible to carry a concealed firearm, to side-step Pennsylvania authorities and apply for a concealed carry permit from another state; and
WHEREAS, Residents of other states that do not meet permitting guidelines similar to Pennsylvania's, who have been granted concealed carry permits by their own state, can travel to Pennsylvania, posing a threat to Pennsylvania residents; and
WHEREAS, Automatically expanding reciprocity to all states may cause confusion for police officers who are suddenly tasked with determining the validity of concealed carry permits from twice as many different states and agencies, many of which have different issuing standards than Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, The federal government forcing states to accept the concealed carry permits issued by other states is a DIRECT violation of Pennsylvania's sovereignty and shows complete disregard and contempt for the Constitutional principle of States' Rights; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia has felt firsthand the deadly consequences of allowing another state's laws to override our own in the case of Marqus Hill, and Pennsylvania resident who exploited the Florida Loophole to side step Philadelphia police and obtain a concealed carry permit from another state; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia's own highest ranking police officer, Commissioner Charles Ramsey, President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, has testified before Congress in opposition to the bill because of the public safety threat it poses to Pennsylvania residents and all Americans, and because of the unnecessary risk at which it places law enforcement officers carrying out their duty; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia, does hereby oppose the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, as introduced in the United States Congress, in any form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Council of the City of Philadelphia, does hereby call upon the members of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation - especially Senator Pat Toomey and Senator Robert Casey - to join us in opposition to this dangerous bill, and to vote against it when it comes to a vote on the House or Senate floor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution shall be transmitted to the Leadership of the United States Congress and to each member of the Pennsylvania Delegation.
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