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My original email was simply asking him to support and endorse the national Reciprocity resolution (HR822) Here is his response.
Dear Mr. Shoemaker,
Thank you for contacting me to share your views regarding firearms permits. I appreciate hearing your thoughts on this matter and welcome the opportunity to respond.
As you may know, Representative Cliff Stearns (R-FL) introduced the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 822) on February 18, 2011. This legislation would allow any person with a valid, state-issued concealed firearm carry permit to carry a concealed handgun in any other state. This bill would not create a federal licensing system, but require states to recognize another state's carrying permit. Currently forty-eight states have laws providing for concealed carry of handguns in some cases; only Wisconsin and Illinois state laws prohibit concealed carry of firearms by civilians under any circumstances.
Opponents of this bill argue it should be up to each individual state to set their own laws and eligibility requirements and not in the hands of the federal government. Opponents also contend the bill would force states to allow a person to carry concealed weapons even if he or she would be banned from possessing firarms under state law thus the bill allows the weaker laws of one state to nullify the restrictions on concealed carry in other states. H.R. 822 was referred to the House Committee on Judiciary for further review. Rest assured, I will keep your thoughts in mind and give this bill thorough consideration should it come before the full Hose of Representatives for a vote.
As a law enforcement officer for 33 years, I realize in a very personal sense just how dangerous weapons are in the wrong hands. I am concerned about the violence that results from criminal use of firearms and the incidence of criminal possession of firearms. However, I believe the best way to deal with crime is not to limit the availability of firearms to law-abiding citizens, but to enforce our laws to ensure that criminals do not obtain weapons in the first place and are penalized for their misuse. These criminals must be held accountable to our laws.
I believe Congress has a responsibility to ensure that legislation holds up to Constitutional scrutiny, and I am a strong defender of the Second Amendment, which permits citizens to keep and bear arms. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to help find effective ways to prevent armed criminal activity without violating the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to get in touch with me. Your interest and input are valued and I hope to hear from you in the future regarding other matters of importance. I encourage you to visit my website and sign-up for my monthly e-newsletter at Congressman Dave Reichert - US House of Representatives to learn more about other issues impacting the 8th Congressional District and our nation. You can also follow my work online and receive frequent updates on legislation being considered in Congress by visiting me on Twitter (Dave Reichert (davereichert) on Twitter) and Facebook (Congressman Dave Reichert | Facebook).
Sincerely,
David G. Reichert
Member of Congress
Please DO NOT REPLY to this e-mail because it was sent from an unattended mailbox. If you'd like to reply, please send a response via my website, Congressman Dave Reichert - US House of Representatives. Thank you for your help in making sure I receive your important communications.