Author: In response to “Concealed Carry Conundrum” (Newsbreak,Oct.), I am not a lawyer, but I have read the Constitution. Perhaps we as gun owners and citizens need to take a different tact on the issue of concealed carry. *Article lV, Sec. 1 of the Constitution reads: “Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other state. And Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.”
The scenario could go something like this… Hypothetically, lets say a tourist from Iowa is driving in Massachusetts and is pulled over on the highway for a burned out tail light, when the trooper comes to explain why he was stopped, the driver does what he believes to be the correct thing, not only does he produce his drivers license but also his Iowa carry permit, as he has a pistol for protection with him. Massachusetts does not recognize his state issued carry permit and he is arrested. He has now been injured by a state law, this could very conceivably make it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The argument presented would hinge on the Second Amendment but mostly on Article lV, Sec.1 .
The defense would present the case that Massachusetts must give full faith and credit to the Iowa carry permit. The case must be made that it is an unreasonable burden for any individual to apply for a carry permit from every state; therefore, like a drivers license, marriage license, etc, all states per Article lV. Sec.1 should recognize carry permits issued from any other state. In further support of this argument, the defense would point out that it is unlawful to possess multiple drivers licenses at one time. Thus, not only would it be an unreasonable burden to obtain any large number of carry permits, it would also be illegal.
The upshot of this of this is that we already have the grounds for carrying concealed in any state with a permit issued from any other state. I would hope that all major gun-rights organizations would seize the golden opportunity to put this issue to rest once and for all by supporting his defense financially. Written by C.D.Corbin, Edited by M.Shean, NOTE: (Conundrum: a question or problem having only a conjectural answer). This is what a dishonest media and many politicians would have you believe. Our citizenship is not restricted only to the state we each live in. Our citizenship and our constitutional rights extend from coast to coast, let your so-called Representatives hear that, often, and while your at it remind them who they work for! This is not a state rights issue, it is about individual rights, it is about every American’s rights.
Mark Shean, Submitted 2002 www.mafirearmsafety.com
Posted in Blog