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| Date: August 14, 1998 1:41 pm Contact: Handgun Control Naomi Paiss or Robin Terry, 202-898-0792 |
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Latest News Releases
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Handgun Control Inc. Report on 'Have Gun, Will Travel' Amendment | ||
| WASHINGTON - August 14 - The following was released today by Handgun Control Inc.: -- CONCEALED DANGER: Evaluating the Potential Impact of the "Have Gun, Will Travel" Amendment -- Nearly 3,000,000 people will be able to carry concealed handguns across state lines and into most states if Congress passes the "Have Gun, Will Travel" Amendment to H.R. 218, according to data released today by Handgun Control, Inc. (HCI). The amendment, introduced by Rep. Bill McCollum (R-FL), was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on August 5, 1998; the full House of Representatives is expected to vote on the entire bill when Congress reconvenes in September. The passage of this Amendment is particularly ironic, coming as it does only a few weeks after an Illinois resident -- who had been involuntarily committed to a mental institution in Montana -- allegedly brought his gun halfway across the country, ultimately to murder two Capitol Hill police officers. Despite Congress' demands for more expensive security installations to protect their own lives and safety, the members of the Judiciary Committee found it expedient to make interstate gun carrying even easier for thousands of potential security risks. In an effort to evaluate the potential impact of the "Have Gun, Will Travel" Amendment, Handgun Control, Inc. collected data about the number of licenses to carry concealed weapons that have been issued in 40 states. (These are the states that allow the carrying of concealed weapons and for which statistical data was reasonably accessible. Because statewide data was not available for Georgia, New Hampshire and Vermont, which all allow the carrying of concealed weapons, it can be assumed that the actual number of license holders nationwide is larger than this report estimates.) HCI researchers found that an estimated total of 2,903,502 licenses to carry concealed handguns have been issued in the 40 states for which data was available. With few exceptions, it is currently illegal for licensees to carry concealed handguns out of the state that issued the license. If this amendment becomes law, however, it would allow all licensees to carry concealed handguns in at least 29 other states across the country. The legislation would mandate unrestricted reciprocity between 28 states that allow anyone who does not fall into a prohibited category (such as a convicted felon) to get a license to carry a concealed handgun (1). Reciprocity would also apply to Vermont, where it is not necessary to obtain a license to carry a concealed gun. The "Have Gun, Will Travel" Amendment could also supersede state laws in 14 states that have strict standards and police discretion in issuing concealed-carry licenses to residents (2). These states give local law enforcement discretion in issuing licenses and usually require applicants to demonstrate a specific need to carry a concealed handgun. This amendment would allow the Governors of each of these 14 states to sign a waiver to allow out-of-state licensees to carry a concealed gun in the state, even if the standards for granting licenses are weaker in the licensees' home state than in the states with much stricter standards. The "Have Gun, Will Travel" Amendment could potentially impact all states except the seven that prohibit the carrying of concealed handguns (3). Millions of people roaming the country with concealed handguns would pose a danger to all affected states, but certain states would be particularly vulnerable. For example, in 1997 alone, 46.9 million tourists entered the State of Florida, according to Visit Florida, a state tourism agency. Florida is just one of many states with a large tourism industry which would be required to grant full reciprocity to concealed weapons licensees from other states. Ironically, Florida Governor Chiles' recently vetoed similar state legislation. Utah, which will host the 2002 Olympics, would also be affected. Furthermore, state concealed-carry laws vary greatly. Texas, for instance, would also be required to grant full reciprocity, but it has far stricter standards for eligibility to carry a concealed handgun than most of the other states that fall into that category. Texas has strict residency, safety training and background check requirements. The "Have Gun, Will Travel" Amendment would undermine these standards, allowing millions of licensees with no safety training, no knowledge of Texas law, and who have undergone less thorough background checks to carry concealed handguns in Texas. Additionally, Texas residents who are not qualified for a concealed-carry license in their own state could get a license in another state that does not have a residency requirement. Texas would then be forced to recognize that license. Armed out-of-state visitors would increase risks in many other states as well. Sixteen of the 29 states that would fall into the full-reciprocity category have no training requirements whatsoever. Some states, like Florida, do not require the license applicant to have ever handled or fired a gun. Two states, Montana and West Virginia, do not require a specific background check. While all states prohibit convicted felons from obtaining licenses to carry, some states allow people convicted of violent misdemeanors or stalking to get a license; other states do not. Regardless of these discrepancies among state laws, the "Have Gun, Will Travel" Amendment would make all of these licenses interchangeable. The "Have Gun, Will Carry" Amendment would weaken carrying concealed weapons laws in states across the country. Despite the gun lobby's oft-cited support of states' rights when arguing against federal gun control measures, this amendment would usurp each state's right and responsibility to protect the public safety of its citizens. Common sense and good public policy require Congress to reject an amendment that will allow some citizens, no matter how unqualified, to bring concealed weapons from coast to coast, and potentially endangering every citizen they meet along the way. -- Notes: (1) These states include: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. (2) These states include: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. (3) These states include: Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Ohio, and Wisconsin. ------ The following documents are attached: -- The number of concealed weapons licensees broken down by state. -- List of incidents involving misuse of firearms by people with licenses to carry concealed handguns. -- "Top Ten U.S. Travel Destinations..." and the concealed weapons laws in those states. ------ Concealed Weapons Licensees By State -- STATE, Number of Licensees SOURCE -- Alabama 105,869 (estimate) (a) Baldwin/Calhoun/Jefferson/Madison/Morgan/Shelby/Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Departments, 8/12/98 -- Alaska 7,288 AK State Police, 12/10/97 -- Arizona 55,601 AZ Department of Public Safety, 12/15/97 -- Arkansas 15,190 AR State Police, 12/9/97 -- California 40,000 (estimate) CA Department of Justice Firearms Program, 12/15/97 -- Colorado 6,300 (estimate) Rocky Mountain News, 4/20/97 -- Connecticut 140,000 (estimate) CT State Police, 12/11/97 -- Delaware 1,100 (estimate) DE State Police, 12/16/97 -- Florida 221,446 Office of the FL Secretary of State, 6/30/98 -- Hawaii 1 Honolulu Police Department, 8/12/98 -- Idaho 35,505 ID State Police, 8/11/98 -- Indiana 67,597 IN State Police, 12/15/97 -- Iowa 25,756 IA Department of Public Safety, 8/11/98 -- Kentucky 32,569 KY State Police, 12/10/97 -- Louisiana 7,207 (b) LA Department of Public Safety, 12/9/97 -- Maine 24,000 (estimate) ME State Police, 12/11/97 -- Maryland 14,000 (estimate) MD State Police, 12/11/97 -- Massachusetts 175,000 (estimate) MA State Police, 8/12/98 -- Michigan 10,000 MI Association of Chiefs of Police, 8/13/98 -- Minnesota 3,660 (a) MN Association of Chiefs of Police, 8/13/98 -- Mississippi 12,750 MS Department of Public Safety, 12/9/97 -- Montana 5,100 MT Department of Justice 12/16/97 -- Nevada 9,108 (a) Washoe/Clark County Sheriff's Departments, 8/11/98 -- New Jersey 4,300 (c) NJ State Police, 8/12/98 -- New York 530,000 (estimate) NY State Police, 8/11/97 -- North Carolina 28,198 Charlotte Observer, 11/23/97 -- North Dakota 4,872 ND Bureau of Criminal Investigation, 7/31/98 -- Oregon 89,328 OR State Police, 8/1/98 -- Oklahoma 22,092 OK Bureau of Investigation, 12/12/97 -- Pennsylvania 575,000 Philadelphia Inquirer, 4/20/98 -- Rhode Island 4,300 (estimate) (b) Office of the RI Attorney General, 8/12/98 -- South Carolina 16,486 SC State Law Enforcement Division, 8/10/98 -- South Dakota 47,853 Office of the SD Secretary of State, 8/7/98 -- Tennessee 33,000 (estimate) Richmond Times-Dispatch, 9/12/97 -- Texas 161,433 TX Department of Public Safety, 12/12/97 -- Utah, 18,806 UT Department of Public Safety, 12/9/97 -- Virginia 72,730 VA State Police, 12/12/97 -- Washington 249,649 WA State Police, 12/11/97 -- West Virginia 25,807 WV State Police, 8/10/98 -- Wyoming 4,601 WY Division of Criminal Investigation, 8/11/98 -- U.S. TOTAL: 2,903,502 -- Note: States that are not included either prohibit the carrying of concealed weapons, or they grant licenses through counties or localities and an accurate estimate of licensees for the state is not available. a) As state-wide records are not kept, number represents only concealed weapons licensees from specific jurisdictions. b) Number represents state regulated permits. Local law enforcement can also issue permits. c) Approximately 48 percent are armored car guards and 47 percent are retired law enforcement officers. ------ Carrying Concealed Weapons (CCW)-The Incident File For several years, the gun lobby has battled to lift restrictions on concealed carry laws by claiming that licensees are all law-abiding citizens who will only use their firearms to defend themselves. Well...not really. A growing number of permit holders have used their firearms to commit crimes, or have had their licenses revoked for crimes unrelated to their handguns. In Texas alone, over 1,600 concealed weapons licensees have had their permits revoked for all types of crimes, including murder. "Law-abiding" citizens carrying firearms can make mistakes everywhere they go. Moreover, with a national "concealed weapons reciprocity" law, these law-abiding citizens will be going everywhere. It is important to note that these stories represent only a fraction of the incidents that occur every week in America. In many cases, neither law enforcement nor the media inquire about the license status of criminals during arrest or even after conviction. July 19, 1998: Thomas P. Kelly, 28, of Groveland, FL, was charged with attempted murder after shooting Amerida Dale Woods during a July 19, 1998 argument. Kelly and Woods had been arguing, when Kelly went to his vehicle, grabbed a handgun and shot Woods. Kelly, a Florida CCW permit holder, was also charged with use of the firearm in commission of a felony, use of a firearm under the influence of alcohol and aggravated assault. (Reported in the Orlando Sun-Sentinel 7/20/98) July 10, 1998: According to Phoenix police, Toby Mack and Kenneth April began "to bounce chests and.start to fight" during an argument at a local mini mart. Mack pulled a gun on April, who responded by pulling his own concealed handgun. April's friend, Mike Willey came out of the market and pulled his gun, whereupon several shots were exchanged by the three. When the shooting stopped, Mack lay on the ground dead and April had a wound to the lower abdomen. Both April and Willey possessed valid Arizona Concealed Weapons Permits. (Reported in the Arizona Republic 7/11/98) June 4, 1998: Steven Dobric, a CCW permit holder with no prior criminal record, gunned down his estranged wife outside a restaurant in Palm Beach, FL, before turning the gun on himself. The victim had filed a restraining order one month earlier, accusing her husband of abuse and death threats. Ironically, two days before the June 3, 1998 incident, Gov. Lawton Chiles had signed a domestic violence bill that barred those served with such orders from possessing firearms. (Reported in the Sun-Sentinel of South Florida 6/2/98) March 23, 1998: A man being questioned by Middleburg, FL, police concerning two murders fled to a men's bathroom in the police station and committed suicide. The man, a concealed weapons licensee, had not been been checked for weapons because he had voluntarily talked to police. (Reported in the Jacksonville Times-Union 3/25/98) February 1, 1998: A Concord, NH, concealed weapons licensee accidentally shot his brother's 16-year-old girlfriend while playing with his gun in a drunken stupor. A known drug-abuser, he had stated that he needed a concealed weapons permit for "self-protection from people he thought were after him in connection with drug dealings." (Reported in the Concord, NH, Monitor 2/3/98) January 28, 1998: A janitor at Garden Spot Middle School in Lancaster, PA, discovered a loaded handgun in a fanny pack left behind after a basketball game. The gun belonged to an assistant coach of the girls basketball team who forgot he had left it on a bleacher. The coach's concealed weapons permit was suspended. (Reported in the Lancaster Intelligencer-Journal 1/28/98) January 19, 1998: According to Warren, RI police, a man found what he thought was a novelty cigarette lighter in form of a gun. It was not. The man "pulled the trigger thinking a flame would come out, but a bullet came out instead," stated police Detective Michael Clancy. The gun had fallen out of the boot of a concealed weapons licensee. Fortunately, no one was injured. (Reported by the Associated Press 1/20/98) January 15, 1998: A road-rage incident on a Seattle, WA freeway turned violent when one driver pulled his concealed pistol and shot his antagonist in the back. According to police, Ronald Beagles, a concealed weapons licensee, pulled his 9mm semi-automatic weapon during a rush-hour confrontation and shot fellow motorist Vernon Mitchell. Tempers flared when Michell broke Beagles' rear window with a baseball bat. Beagles responded by pulling his gun and shooting Mitchell. (Reported in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer 1/15/98) January 11, 1998: According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Dana Mason, a West Philadelphia janitor with a clean record and a concealed weapons permit, used his license like a "magic pass," allowing him to purchase guns without a background check or waiting period. Mason, according to court records, used this loophole in the Pennsylvania concealed weapons law to serve as a "straw buyer" for another man, a convicted felon and gun trafficker. Mason was only caught after authorities became suspicious of a particularly prolific gun buying spree. (Reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer 1/15/98) December 22, 1997: John L. Pausch, of Tigard, OR, was charged with reckless endangerment after accidentally firing his .38 caliber revolver in a local bar. Police stated that Pausch was "goofing off" when he removed his gun and began to simulate firing it. The gun went off, striking the bar and causing $350 worth of damage. Pausch had a valid Oregon concealed weapons permit. (Reported in the Oregonian 12/24/97) December 7, 1997: According to police, Seminole County (FL) judge Newman Brock, a concealed weapons licensee, pointed his .32 caliber revolver at a fellow motorist. Police stated that Brock pointed his gun at Neil Stokes after an argument over a parking space. (Reported by the Associated Press 12/25/97) November 11, 1997: According to police, 22-year-old Angela Schlicher is lucky to be alive after she was accidentally shot by her boss. The Greenwood, Indiana, woman was working in a tanning salon when her boss accidentally fired his .44 caliber revolver. According to police, the man, a concealed weapons permit holder, was drunk at the time. Ms. Schlicher was shot when he withdrew his gun from its holster to inspect it. The gun discharged, with the bullet penetrating Ms. Schlicher's arm and lodging in her spleen. (Reported in the Indianapolis Star 11/13/97) November 10, 1997: Two women enjoying a meal at the Planet Hollywood in Indianapolis, IN, were struck by a single bullet accidentally discharged by a fellow patron's concealed .32 caliber Derringer. The permit holder had bent over to retrieve a broken necklace, only to have his gun drop out of his pocket, firing one shot. Authorities pointed out that the permit holder should have kept his gun in a holster. (Reported in the Indianapolis Star 11/11/97) October 7, 1997: Hani Farah, owner of a Mt. Morris, MI, liquor store, was accused of felonious assault on two liquor control board investigators. According to reports, after the investigators had seized an illegal gambling machine from Farah's store, Farah ran after them, firing two shots. Farah, a concealed weapons permit holder, had his permit revoked after this incident. (Reported in the Flint, MI, Journal 12/4/97) September 16, 1997: Former Broward County, FL judge candidate and CCW license holder Daniel Blackman pulled his gun on an emergency room doctor at St. Mary's Medical Center after the doctor refused to write him a prescription. The doctor fled from the examining room and summoned a police officer who confronted Blackman. Blackman then pointed his gun at the officer, who managed to wrestle the gun from him. In 1996 Blackman was accused of threatening to put three bullets in the head of an officer after receiving a parking ticket at an airport. Charges were dropped on assurances Blackman would receive psychological treatment. Under Florida law, he was able to retain his CCW license. (Reported in the Sun-Sentinel 9/17/97) September 6, 1997: Five men got into an argument outside of Big Willy's Saloon in Baldwin, PA. According to reports, words were exchanged, and guns were pulled. All five individuals had valid Pennsylvania Concealed Weapons Permits. Shots were fired, and five people were injured, two critically. Five weapons were recovered. Although only five bullets had been fired from three of the guns, each shot managed to injure someone. Baldwin Chief of Police, Christopher Kelly commented on how easy it was to obtain a concealed weapons permit. Previous laws had required a letter of reference from a local police chief. Chief Kelly used the rule to encourage applicants to obtain safety training. Changes in state law forced Chief Kelly to stop requiring simple safety training. (Reported in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 9/10/97) ------ TOP TEN U.S. TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR DOMESTIC TRAVELERS IN 1997 (Source: Travel Industry Association of America) -- 1. California (e) 2. Florida (d) 3. Texas (d) 4. Pennsylvania (d) 5. New York (e) 6. Ohio (f) 7. Georgia (d) 8. Illinois (f) 9. North Carolina (d) 10. Virginia (d) -- Notes: d) States in which virtually anyone who is not a convicted felon can obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon. The "Have Gun, Will Travel," Amendment would require these states to grant full reciprocity to concealed-carry licensees from other states. e) States which give law enforcement discretion in issuing concealed-carry licenses and usually require applicants to demonstrate a specific need to carry a concealed handgun. If the "Have Gun, Will Travel" Amendment becomes law, Governors in these states could sign a waiver allowing out-of-state licensees to carry concealed handguns in their states. f) States which prohibit the carrying of concealed handguns and would not be affected by the "Have Gun, Will Travel" Amendment. -0- |
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