New Jersey: Disarmed, Yet Still Dangerous...

http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/130518533_Race_to_bottom_on_gun_control.html


The comments almost universally slam Mr. Lautenberg's guest editorial.  HR 822 is needed, but wouldn't be necessary if all of our States actually followed the Constitution.

Violent crime will not increase ONE IOTA if national reciprocity comes to pass, as he ludicrously fears, but at least there won't be any "paperwork criminals" who are charged with CC violations because they crossed over into a state that doesn't accept their permit.

Mr. Lautenberg, do you really mean to tell me that the idea of my packing in your state on my New York CCW scares you?  Despite a heap of paperwork, background checks that far exceed NICS in their thoroughness, an NRA safety course, and four notarized character references, that you think that I'd represent a threat of some sort??? Nonsense. 

And I certainly don't think New Yorkers should be subjected to the overly rigorous process that exists just to *own* a handgun.  See, there's this state right next door called Vermont that doesn't require any of that crap and I have yet to hear of Vermonters lamenting a decades-long scourge of "gun violence."

HR 822

 At first blush, HR 822 sounds great - forcing states to recognize each other's concealed carry permits.  I'm a proud New Yorker, but I have no issue with CCW holders from other states packing heat in mine.  And I don't think I should become an instant criminal if I visit another state without first having gotten their nonresident permit.
 I'm not so sure that I like the idea of enacting a federal law that gives explicit permission for something already guaranteed in our Constitution.
 And what of Vermonters, whose state doesn't even issue optional permits, as Alaska, Wyoming and Arizona do?  They shouldn't be excluded from this regime (if enacted) simply for doing the right thing - following the Consitution - from the get-go.