Since they passed constitutional carry in my state (which I do not agree with), I'm afraid to know how many rednecks around here who could not qualify for a concealed carry permit are now carrying. But I bet it's a bunch.
Hmmmmmmmm??????? So your of the mind that people have to prove their worthiness of exercising a constitutional right? Do gun buyers have to go through a background check to purchase a gun? If so that should be all that is required.
It's a controversial topic that triggers some folks, but there is merit on both sides.
Here in NC we do legally speaking have universal background checks for handguns. Under NC law, all transfers of a handgun require the receiver of the firearm to have either a concealed carry permit or a purchase permit, and who ever is selling or giving the handgun away is supposed to get and keep a copy of the concealed carry permit, or keep the purchase permit.
Does that happen all the time? Probably not. When I inherited a handgun, I provided the executor with a copy of my permit and advised her of the requirement. She was not aware of it.
But…it's a good start and, at least technically, all the rednecks (and everyone else) open carrying handguns in NC should have been vetted to ensure they were at least at one point not prohibited from possessing and open carrying a handgun.
If the same purchase/transfer requirements exist in Constitutional carry states, then I don't see any particular issue compared to the open carry law in NC.
If on the other hand, those constitutional carry states don't have a universal background check requirement for handguns, then we potentially have issues as we have a pathway to handgun ownership outside of a background check.
What amazes me is how many legal gun owners get their hackles up over universal background check requirements and expect their congress critters to oppose them, instead of introducing bills that facilitate low cost or now cost universal background checks so that we have a balance between vetting legal gun owners while not making the process burdensome when gifting a gun, etc.
A federal law providing for both universal background checked and a no cost or low cost purchase permit that lasts 5 years that meets that requirement, and is revocable if the holder is convicted of an offense or activity that makes them a prohibited individual, would be a win win for all involved. It would also head off more draconian measures many states would like to adopt.
