Title
Urging the Senate to reject S. 446, entitled "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017", which requires states to recognize licenses or permits from other states, no matter how permissive their licensing standards.
Body
WHEREAS, H.R. 38, entitled "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017", and S.446, entitled "Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017", seek to amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code to require recognition of concealed carry permits across state lines; and
WHEREAS, These bills would eliminate state and local authorities' traditional role in promoting public safety by, for example, setting criteria for granting a concealed carry license or permit that are based upon applicants' potential to threaten public safety and utilizing expert discretion and local knowledge to apply that criteria and make a decision; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is a "limited discretion shall issue" state, meaning that it requires a lawful purpose to issue a concealed carry license and may deny a license based on indicators of dangerousness. Twenty-seven states do not allow this discretion. Moreover, Pennsylvania categorically prohibits concealed carry by individuals under the age of 21; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania maintains an automated registry, so that police officers may quickly check if an individual is licensed to carry a firearm legally within the commonwealth, allowing officers to exercise appropriate safety measures when interacting with a person in possession of a gun. Pennsylvania also has a venue through which non-residents with concealed carry licenses or permits issued in other states can apply for one in Pennsylvania, thereby entering the state database. The ability to quickly assess the legitimacy of 50 different permits jeopardizes this system and endangers the safety of citizens and police officers; and
WHEREAS, West Virginia, a neighboring state, allows permitless concealed carry starting at age 18. Moreover, in 2016,...
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