Chabot speaks for national "right to carry" gun law | Politics

WASHINGTON, DC (FOX19) - First District Ohio Representative Steve Chabot spoke Wednesday in favor of House Bill H.R. 822, a law that would extend concealed-carry reciprocity nationwide, for people traveling between states that permit concealed-carry of firearms.  Presently, states make individual deals to allow this. 

The bill passed easily, 272 to 154, with nearly all Republicans and about a quarter of Democrats supporting it.  Locally, the New York Times reports that Mike Pence and Todd Young of Indiana, Chabot and Mike Turner of Ohio, and Geoff Davis of Kentucky voting yes, and Ohio's John Boehner and Jean Schmidt not voting.  All are Republicans. 

Here's a transcript of Chabot's speech: 

Mr. Speaker, the Second Amendment to the Constitution states, “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” In a modern age when travel for work and pleasure has become routine for many Americans, the National Right to Carry, is a common sense solution to adapt to today’s needs. This legislation allows persons with valid state-issued concealed firearm permits or licenses to carry a concealed firearm in any other state that issues concealed firearm permits or licenses. 

To be clear, this legislation does not create a national licensing scheme or agency. It does not supersede the proscribed laws for a firearms use in a particular state. This bill allows states to continue governing the particular use and parameters associated with the concealed firearm, including: time, place, and manner laws. 

The right of self-defense is fundamental one, and has been recognized in law for centuries. In fact, the Declaration of Independence asserts that “life” is among one of the inalienable rights of all people. The Second Amendment guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms for “security purposes,” in order to protect life. Clearly these rights are sacred and deserve the utmost protection. We have a duty to guard against regulations that burden these Constitutional rights. 

The Second Amendment dictates that the appropriate way to fight crime is to target criminals, not law abiding gun owners. Today we have an opportunity to recognize the right to bear arms for our citizens and to allow law abiding citizens to exercise this freedom without facing restrictive barriers. 

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