Hence my thought that the best the feds can do is to require the states to issue licenses to non-residents under the same terms as residents. NJ should be able to specify the conditions under which people are licensed to carry in NJ - resident or non-resident.
I had the same thought along those lines. My thought was that congress can't force a state to change their standards for concealed carry. The Senate version of HR 38 (S 446) is somewhat more inline with "when in Rome" than HR 38.
“(b) Conditions And Limitations.—The possession or carrying of a concealed handgun in a State under this section shall be subject to the same conditions and limitations, except as to eligibility to possess or carry, imposed by or under Federal or State law or the law of a political subdivision of a State, that apply to the possession or carrying of a concealed handgun by residents of the State or political subdivision who are licensed by the State or political subdivision to do so, or not prohibited by the State from doing so.
My interpretation of this clause is that all of the laws of the state you are carrying in apply, including magazine restrictions, types of firearms, types of ammo, where you can carry, etc. In other words you get a pass on the permit but nothing else. Screw up on the details and you could be prosecuted by the state.
The fed really can't regulate, nor enforce the laws of a state, nor do they want to. That's the reason the 55 mph federal speed limit failed. It was a federal law that couldn't be enforced by the federal gov't. It's the same with pot laws. A business is selling pot to adults about 5 miles from my door and they have a state license to do that. Just pay the tax.
Anything that will pass in the senate will have to be in agreement with the conditions of carry of the particular state you happen to be in. Otherwise it's dead. Does anyone honestly believe a senator is going to sell out the citizens of his state who have put in place the restrictions that state legislators have enacted? Not going to happen.
And your permit will probably end up in a federal database just so the state can check it when they run your DL. The state will make sure of that. A DOL database in my state already puts my CPL on my DL. Imagine that.
Last edited: