Cliff Stearns Backs National Right-to-Carry Law

Along with Democratic U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns introduced the National Right-To-Carry Reciprocity Act on Wednesday which would mandate that states recognize concealed firearm permits from other states.

The right to self-defense is unquestionable and the right to carry a firearm is recognized in our Constitution, said Stearns. Today, 48 states have laws permitting concealed carry of a firearm in some circumstances, and this legislation would allow any person with a valid state-issued concealed firearm carry permit or license to carry a concealed handgun in any other state.

It is important to note this bill would not create a federal licensing system, added Stearns. It would merely require states to recognize each others carry permits, just as they recognize drivers' licenses and carry permits held by armored car guards.

Already 40 states have right-to-carry laws -- which Stearns maintained poses no risk to public safety.

Citizens with carry permits are more law-abiding than the general public, said Stearns. In my home state of Florida, only 0.01 percent of nearly 1.2 million permits issued have been revoked because of firearm crimes by permit holders. States with right-to-carry laws have lower violent crime rates.According to FBI figures, on average the rate is 22 percent lower for total violent crime, 30 percent lower for murder, 46 percent lower for robbery, and 12 percent lower for aggravated assault, compared to the rest of the country.

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