Could This Ruling Mean Concealed Carry Reciprocity
Regardless on where you land on the topic of gay marriage this ruling could be a huge win for concealed carriers nationwide. This issues comes down to rights and if those rights can be upheld (or even invented) out of the intentions of the 14th Amendment than they will most surely apply to ‘decisions’ we’ve made to become licensed concealed carriers.
As Bob Owens of Bearing Arms points out this ruling is largely based on Section 1 of The 14th Amendment which reads:
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
So when we look at the argument for CCL holders and reciprocity across state lines there is a valid point here, one line in particular stands out to me “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States;” this excerpt is very definite and succinct and leaves very little room for interpretation.
As Owens says about the latter portion of that statement: “nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
By using the Constitution in such a manner, the Court argues that the Due Process clause extends “certain personal choices central to individual dignity and autonomy” accepted in a majority of states across the state lines of a handful of states that still banned the practice.
Owens goes on to say:
My North Carolina concealed carry permit, for example, was recognized yesterday as being valid in 36 states, which just so happened to be the number of states in which gay marriage was legal yesterday. But 14 states did not recognize my concealed carry permit yesterday.
Today they must.
Using the same “due process clause” argument as the Supreme Court just applied to gay marriage, my concealed carry permit must now be recognized as valid in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
So whether you are a concealed carrier or just someone who wants to take his or her firearm from one state to another perhaps for a camping or hiking trip. In the past you’ve had to take great precautions when traveling with a firearm due to the massive delta from state to state when it comes to gun laws. With this ruling a great deal of that very foggy air may be beginning to clear up. Over the years there have been many cases of law-abiding citizens being imprisoned over what they thought was legal and permissible behavior.
As Michael Dorstewitz points in his article entitled:
Gun rights groups find a side to gay marriage ruling that will make liberal heads EXPLODE
If and when the issue is settled, reciprocity of concealed carry permits would eliminate future travesties such as the case of Shaneen Allen, the young Philadelphia mom who was arrested in New Jersey because she had her legally-registered handgun in her vehicle.
There are many cases like this in our great land where a law-abiding citizen made a mistake and suffered grave consequences and anything that can help protect Americans from senseless charges like this in the future is a step in the right direction.
A disappointing thing that I often see when speaking about The Constitution Of The Unites States are these statements from some people along the lines that our Constitution is somehow outdated. That the intentions of our Fore Fathers where not clear in their intentions or that they wanted us to have the right to protect ourselves from enemies both foreign and domestic meant something completely different back then. Well I would like to take this opportunity to post some quotes that were posted by Allen B. West in his article on this matter that I do not think we see enough of these days.
“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!” — Benjamin Franklin
“I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.” — George Mason
“No free government was ever founded, or ever preserved its liberty, without uniting the characters of the citizen and soldier in those destined for the defense of the state…such area well-regulated militia, composed of the freeholders, citizen and husbandman, who take up arms to preserve their property, as individuals, and their rights as freemen.” — Richard Henry Lee
“[W]hat country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms.” — Thomas Jefferson
“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent on others for essential, particularly for military, supplies.” — George Washington
“An armed person is a citizen, and unarmed person is a subject” — Allen B. West…I know, I’m just a regular fella, but just thought I’d sneak this one in.
