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States’ gun laws need to mirror US Constitution

To the editor:

There has been a real growth in firearm concealed carry permits in the United States. During Obama’s eight years, the number of CCP holders increased 256 percent. Over 16 million Americans have CCPs, but since 14 states have adopted constitutional carry (which means no permits are required), the real number is actually much larger.

As a concealed carry permit holder since first legalized in Pennsylvania, sheriff solicitor for 31 years, former district attorney, NRA member for decades and a federal firearm licensee, I see the need for national reciprocity. This is legislation introduced in Congress which would require states to honor each other’s firearm carry permits (just like states honor each others’ driver’s licenses).

H.R. 38 passed the House of Representatives on Dec. 6, 2017 by a vote of 231 to 198. It is titled the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. It was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. There is currently S. 446, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 in the United States Senate. I urge everyone interested to contact our U.S. Senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey. This legislation would also recognize that our Second Amendment right to bear arms does not end at the state line.

Take Pennsylvania for example. Don’t even think about carrying a handgun into New York, New Jersey, Maryland or Washington D.C. National reciprocity would, however, require my Pennsylvania concealed carry permit to be recognized in these gun control states and allow me to exercise my constitutional right of self-protection wherever I travel in our country.

Congress is also considering the Hearing Protection Act at H.R. 367 which would change federal regulation of gun suppressors or so-called “silencers.” Only the movies have absolute “silencers.” Actually, a suppressor is usually a canister attached to the gun muzzle and produces less sound — the gun is not “silenced.”

The National Firearms Act of 1934 set up a tax and registration system for certain firearms and accessories. As enacted, the NFA applies to machine guns, short-barreled shotguns and rifles, grenades, mortars and “silencers.” In order to acquire a suppressor, a person must pay a $200 tax to BATFE and go through a burdensome and antiquated acquisition process for what is currently an 8-to-12-month wait. This new law would remove only suppressors from the NFA and put sale and approval back in the hands of licensed FFL dealers with the same background (PICS or NICS) checks as firearms. These other NFA items would still be strictly controlled and not affected.

Many states have already legalized suppressors for hunting and shooting use. It is proven that suppressors have noise abatement which helps protect against hearing loss. Even the Congressional Research Service, which advises Congress, does not fully understand the difference between suppressors and “silencers.”

Self defense is a fundamental right and the right to use firearms for self defense is recognized by our U.S. Constitution, the Constitutions of 44 states and common law. These two issues and the legislation which supports them deserve your attention.

Dave Molek

Reedsville

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