In summary
A Democratic legislator has introduced a state resolution opposing Trump-backed federal legislation that would allow out-of-state gun owners to pack concealed firearms in public places throughout California.
A Democratic legislator has introduced a state resolution opposing proposed federal legislation that would allow out-of-state gun owners to pack concealed firearms in public places throughout California.
Citing violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia earlier this month in which some “alt-right” activists and counter-protesters could be seen brandishing weapons, Assemblyman Miguel Santiago of Los Angeles urged Congress to nix two “concealed-carry reciprocity” bills currently under consideration.
President Trump has repeatedly expressed his support for reciprocity, echoing a top legislative priority for the National Rifle Association.
National concealed-carry reciprocity would treat permits to carry concealed firearms much like driver’s licenses—a permit in one state would have to be honored in another. Gun rights activists complain that the current patchwork of state gun control laws presents undue complications for law-abiding gun owners when traveling from state to state. A gun owner with a permit to carry a concealed weapon in Utah, for example, could run into legal trouble if carrying the same concealed weapon in California.
California has some of the most restrictive concealed-carry policies in the nation. Applicants for concealed-carry permits must show “good cause” to receive a permit, and permits are extremely difficult to obtain in major metropolitan areas.
Santiago’s resolution marks the first official legislative response to the possibility of national concealed-carry reciprocity. Resolutions are mostly symbolic, non-binding statements expressing the will of the state Legislature.
Neither the Senate nor House versions of the national concealed-carry reciprocity bills have yet to receive a vote.