| July
7, 2004--The United States Senate today passed H.R. 218,
the 'National Concealed Carry for Cops' bill by a unanimous margin.
The bill exempts qualified active duty and retired peace officers
from state and local prohibitions on the carrying of concealed
weapons. Active and retired peace officers will be able to carry
concealed weapons when travelling outside their own jurisdictions
and in other states.
First proposed in 1992 by Representative
Randy Cunningham (R-California), and lobbied for heavily by the
Law Enforcement Alliance of America and the Fraternal Order of
Police, the bill has met with some stiff resistance over the past
twelve years.
Some of America's most noted anti-gun
politicians criticized the legislation, including Massachusetts
Senator Ted Kennedy, who spoke on the record about his fears of
retired police officers carrying concealed "sniper rifles".
Another anti-gun politician from Massachusetts said he needed
more reassurance that retired officers wouldn't be allowed to
carry concealed "grenades". It soon became clear that
when it comes to promoting gun control, many politicians have
no problem restricting even law enforcement officers from having
firearms.
The bill was also opposed by the Clinton
Administration, and failed to gain traction when the House and
Senate were controlled by Democrats.
With the election of a Republican majority
in the House and Senate, the bill began to attract more supporters.
Police organizations nationwide lobbied heavily on behalf of the
bill, finally picking up 297 co-sponsors in the Congress, and
70 in the Senate.
The bill passed the Congress on June 23rd,
and was forwarded to the Senate. President Bush has already promised
that he would sign the legislation.
Some gun owners have expressed reservations
about the bill, and for a variety of reasons. Some, for example,
believe that passage of the bill will dilute support from rank-and-file
officers for passage of shall-issue concealed carry legislation
for "civilians" in states that now lack such systems.
Others feel that the bill drives a wedge
between law enforcement and gun owners by creating a two-tier
system in which retired police officers have privileges not given
to the general public.
Other gun owners, however, have supported
the bill because they believe it will make the public more accustomed
to people carrying concealed weapons, and thus make passage of
shall-issue concealed carry laws more likely.
Regardless of varying opinions, though,
passage of the bill is yet another victory over the anti-gun forces
in DC.
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