I’m For It Except When I’m Against It

Remember when conservatives were strong supporters of state's rights?  They still are, except when they aren't.  On the issue of abortion, they want to take jurisdiction away from the federal government and give it to the states, where bans are easier to enact.  Guns are another matter.

They want to take gun control authority away from the state and local governments, especially when it comes to carrying concealed weapons.  That's the latest cause of the NRA and the gun lobby.

Right now you can get a permit to carry a loaded, concealed weapon in every state but many impose some limits.  In some states you can carry a loaded gun into bar, a church, a school, a movie theater, government buildings and even certain parts of airport, but you'll get arrested when you try that in many other states unless you have a similar license there.

The NRA, which has a death grip on the GOP and more than a few Democrats, is pushing a bill it calls The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act that would allow gun owners to legally carry concealed weapons across state lines into other states without having to get a permit there. It's veto bait, but they're really looking for an issue to use against gun control advocates in 2016 – which is defined as anyone who is not marching in lockstep with the gun nuts.

Those are the folks who said the Newtown tragedy could have been averted if the teachers had been armed.  They also think people should be able to carry guns into bars.  What a great idead; no one would ever get into a drunken fight and go for his gun there. 

Why is it so many people who are ardent advocates of totally unrestrained gun ownership also claim to support "right to life"?  Is the irony lost on them? 

Jews are among the strongest supporters of gun control, according to the American Jewish Committee

•  92 percent of Jews support requiring a permit from police before purchasing a firearm, compared to 80 percent for the population as a whole.

•  Jews have the greatest level of support for gun control among all ethnic/racial and religious groups.  Jews are also the lowest of all religious groups in firearm ownership.

•  Only 13 percent of Jewish households contain firearms (vs. 41percent for non-Jews) and just 10 percent of Jews personally own a gun (vs. 26 percent for non-Jews).

Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, has said the latest gun bill is "evil and dangerous."

Anyone who agrees that The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — HR 923 in the House and  S 498 in Senate — is not only a bad idea but a dangerous one should let their senators and representatives know.

About the Author
Douglas M. Bloomfield is a syndicated columnist, Washington lobbyist and consultant. He spent nine years as the legislative director and chief lobbyist for AIPAC.
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