Newsflash: Gun Owners of America E-mail

Friday, July 17, 2009

A vote to protect your right to travel out-of-state with
a firearm could come to a vote next week -- even as
early as Monday!

Senators John Thune and David Vitter are the sponsors of
S. 845 -- a bill that will establish concealed carry
reciprocity amongst the several states.

Senators Thune and Vitter offered the bill as an
amendment (#1618) to the Department of Defense
authorization bill (H.R. 2647).

This provision will use the constitutional authority
allowing Congress to enforce "full faith and credit"
across the country, so that each state respects the
"public acts, records, and judicial proceedings" of
every other state (Article IV).

The benefit of the Thune/Vitter legislation is that --
unlike other, competing measures -- it would protect the
right of any U.S. citizen to carry out of state
(regardless of whether he possesses a permit), as
long as he is authorized to carry in his home state.
This is important because of states like Vermont and
Alaska, where residents can carry concealed without
prior approval or permission from the state... in
other words, without a permit!

ACTION: Please urge your Senators to vote YES on the
Thune/Vitter concealed carry reciprocity amendment that
will be offered to the Department of Defense
authorization bill and NO on any modifying amendments.
This vote could come as early as Monday, so please act
on this right away!

You can use the Gun Owners Legislative Action Center at
http://www.gunowners.org/activism.htm to send your
Senators the pre-written e-mail message below.

----- Pre-written letter -----

Dear Senator:

Please support the Thune/Vitter amendment to the
Department of Defense authorization bill. This amendment
will protect the right of citizens to carry firearms
outside of their home state without violating the rights
of the other states. Thus, the reciprocity language
masterfully protects the principle of federalism while
also promoting Second Amendment rights.

A person's right to defend himself and his family should
not end at the border of his state.

I urge you to vote for the Thune/Vitter concealed carry
amendment and to oppose any modifying actions that seek
to weaken their amendment.

Sincerely,

(Place your Name, City, and State here)