There is no need to nullify state regulations on concealed guns
By Erika Stutzman
Wednesday, July 22, 2009

It is, as of this morning, up to each state to decide who can receive permits to carry concealed weapons. It is also up to the states to decide whether to honor permits issued elsewhere.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., has introduced an amendment to a defense budget bill that would radically change that.

The Thune amendment would force states with their own concealed-carry laws to accept the laws of every other state that offers them. So any state with relaxed standards would see those permits go national.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors opposes the measure, citing the roughly 84 people killed by guns per day in America.

"Today, the American people should be asking their members of Congress: When did law enforcement and public safety in this country take a back seat to the gun lobby -- and why are you going along?" said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, the conference president.

The amendment could have a major impact in Colorado. We strongly urge Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet to vote "no" if it comes up for a vote today, as expected.

Colorado allows some out-of-state residents to use their own concealed-carry permits, issued by their states; but it blocks concealed-carry permission to permit-holders from 23 states. A full list is available through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Thune's constituents from South Dakota have their permits honored here. Residents of Vermont -- where no permit at all is needed to carry loaded, concealed weapons -- are not allowed to carry concealed weapons here.

If any state issues a concealed-carry permit to a non-resident, that permit is not valid in Colorado. Utah, for example, granted permits to thousands of non-residents, including citizens of foreign countries. Many didn't have a background check or proof of firearms training. While residents of the state of Utah can -- and do -- have concealed-carry permits honored in neighboring Colorado, residents of other states and countries with Utah-issued permits do not.

This common-sense measure makes permit-shopping unattractive to people who want to bring their concealed weapons into Colorado, while skirting the tougher regulations of their own, home state.

The Thune amendment would simply take the power to enact such common-sense measures away from the states.

We support the right of Coloradans to own and carry guns. We don't support federal legislation that would trump any states' rights to enact their own gun regulations.

-- Erika Stutzman, for

the Camera editorial board