Alphecca

Three Gun Bills to be Introduced in Congress

Two of them good -- that is, -- supporting gun rights, one of them bad -- more gun control. John M. Snyder reports:

Two deserving of all-out support from America's 80 million law-abiding gun owners are H.R. 73, by Congressman Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland, and H.R. 226, by Congressman Cliff Stearns of Florida.

H.R. 73, the Bartlett bill, would protect the right to obtain firearms for security and to use firearms in defense of self, family, or home, and to provide for the legal enforcement of such right.

Although Bartlett has introduced similar measures in previous Congress, it remains at the top of gun rights activists' short and long-range agenda.

The philosophy behind it is solid. Without recognition of a right to legitimate self-defense, there really is no genuine recognition of a right to life itself. And without recognition of a right to the means necessary for self-defense, that is, firearms, there is no real acceptance of a right to self-defense. So, conceptually, the right to obtain and use firearms for self-defense really is part and parcel of a right to life itself.

H.R. 226, the Stearns bill, would set national standards according to which non-residents of a state who possess permits to carry concealed firearms issued by other states may carry concealed firearms in the state.

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One proposal which definitely will not get gun right organizations' support and, in fact, will be at the receiving end of gun rights opposition, is H.R. 96, by Congressman Mike Castle of Delaware. This bill, also referred to the House Judiciary Committee, would set up so many requirements for background checking and report filing in connection with the numerous gun shows which occur annually in the United States as to undermine or eliminate most or all of them. Gun owners probably will fight this one tooth and nail.

To be honest, I don't expect any of these bills to gain much traction. The first two are certainly worthy of pursuit but will run into a stonewall of opposition from the newly Democratic majority in Congress or if they do make it to the floor, it will open the door for a host of gun control amendments being tacked on by anti-gunners.

Mike Castle's anti-gun show bill will stall in committee if the Democratic strategists are serious about stearing clear of gun control and will meet a firestorm of opposition from mid-western and western states if it does make it to the floor.