Political conservatives tend to be staunch defenders of states’ rights — except when they’re not. And one of those exceptions is gun rights advocates’ support for House Resolution 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011. The measure, which has more than half the U.S. House of Representatives as co-sponsors, would require any governmental jurisdiction that issues concealed weapons permits to honor such permits granted by any other jurisdiction.

The National Rifle Association is lobbying for the bill’s passage and promotes it as a way to “enable millions of permit holders to exercise their right to self-defense while traveling outside their home states.” Requiring governmental units in each state to honor any other state’s concealed weapons permits would be like honoring another state’s driver’s license, the association says.

But opponents of the legislation, which includes a coalition of 600 U.S. mayors, the American Bar Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, say, if enacted into law, the measure would “dumb down” gun laws all across the country, requiring states, cities and counties with more stringent concealed weapons laws — including gun safety training requirements — to loosen their standards. And that, opponents say, would create a threat to public safety.

The NRA and its supporters tried to get a similar law passed in Oregon this year but the bill was approved by the House and watered down in the Senate. A second bill prohibiting the release of information identifying anyone applying for or holding a concealed weapon permit also passed the House but died in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Oregon is known as what’s called a “shall-issue” state, which means it has to issue a concealed weapon permit to anyone who qualifies. However, applicants cannot have been convicted of a felony, be cited for stalking, be a registered sex offender or have been dishonorably discharged from the armed forces, and they must demonstrate handgun “competence,” usually by completing an approved training course.

Federal gun laws additionally prohibit gun ownership by anyone who’s spent a year or more in prison or is a fugitive from justice, addicted to drugs, mentally incompetent, an illegal immigrant, a non-citizen, under a court restraining order or convicted of domestic violence. Except for the felony conviction and armed services discharge provisions, Oregon’s permit restrictions likely would go away if HR 822 were to become law.

Oregon’s concealed weapon permit is honored in 15 other states but it doesn’t honor any other state’s permits in return. Alaska, Arizona, Vermont and Wyoming don’t require permits. Only Illinois will not allow concealed weapons permits after Wisconsin’s ban goes away on Nov. 1.

The U.S. House held a hearing on HR 822 on Sept. 13. With at least 55 percent of its members already agreeing to support the bill, House passage seems a lock. No companion bill has yet emerged in the Senate.

The current patchwork of state and local gun regulations is burdensome for gun owners and some uniform approach is probably needed. How that is reconciled with conservatives’ traditional dislike of federal interference in local affairs will be interesting to watch.