| | |  Editorials | Issues | July 2009 
US Senate Rejects Concealed Weapons Amendment
 Greg Vadala - Congressional Quarterly
go to original
July 22, 2009
 |  | There is likely to be a rise in distress migration, malnutrition and social unrest. |  | | |
The Senate on Wednesday rejected an amendment that would have allowed licensed gun owners to carry concealed firearms across state lines.
The amendment, the latest in a string of moves to broaden gun rights, was offered to the fiscal 2010 defense authorization bill (S 1390). The Senate rejected the amendment, offered by John Thune, R-S.D., by a vote of 58-39.
Under an agreement announced July 20, supporters of the amendment needed 60 votes to win its adoption.
A relieved Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, D-Ill., said, "I do believe that we have broken the momentum" of the gun lobby.
Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., who joined Durbin in battling the amendment, said, "We're able to breathe a sigh of relief." He added, "The Democratic Party was divided but we were able to pull this one out."
Twenty Democrats joined 38 Republicans in voting for the amendment, while two Republicans - Richard G. Lugar of Indiana and George V. Voinovich of Ohio - joined 35 Democrats and two independents in opposing it.
The amendment would have allowed individuals to carry concealed firearms across state lines if they had valid permits or were legally entitled by their state of residence to do so. After entering another state, an individual carrying a firearm would have had to respect that state's laws as they apply to conceal-and-carry permit holders if the amendment had become law.
Currently, 46 states issue concealed-carry permits. Illinois and Wisconsin do not allow concealed carrying of firearms; Alaska and Vermont allow concealed carrying without a permit.
"If the Thune amendment is enacted, states with carefully crafted conceal-carry laws must allow concealed carry by out-of-state visitors who may not meet their own state's standards, who may even have sexual battery, child abuse, or manslaughter convictions," said Durbin. "Is that going to make us safer?"
Schumer said the amendment would "take state and local gun laws and tear them up."
"The pro-gun lobby has always said, 'let the states decide,'" Schumer said. "Now they're doing a 180-degree turn and saying, 'let the federal government decide,' and impose the lowest common denominator when it comes to carrying concealed weapons."
Some Democrats Supported Gun Measures
Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada voted in favor of the amendment. Reid, who was endorsed by the National Rifle Association during his 2004 campaign and could face a tough re-election bid next year, has distanced himself from the more liberal wing of his party on the gun control issue.
The NRA will use the vote on Thune's amendment as part of its rankings for senators, said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action.
The vote marked a rare defeat for the NRA and other gun advocates.
In May, 27 Senate Democrats supported Oklahoma Republican Tom Coburn 's amendment to credit card legislation (PL 111-24) allowing people to bring concealed and loaded guns into national parks. The measure passed the House 279-147, with support from 105 Democrats.
And in February, 22 Senate Democrats helped form a majority for an amendment by John Ensign, R-Nev., that would ease restrictions on gun ownership in the District of Columbia. It was attached to legislation (S 160) that would give the District full voting representation in the House, and the provision has stalled House action on that bill.
Thune's amendment was similar to a stand-alone bill (S 845) that he introduced in April. The Judiciary Committee's Crime and Drugs Subcommittee is scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday on that bill.
Thune said he decided to offer his proposal as an amendment to the defense bill after Democrats pushed an amendment that would expand the definition of hate crimes to cover offenses based on sexual orientation, gender identification or disability. That measure was adopted last week. |
|
| |
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us