We’re keeping a close eye on one of the gun lobby’s top priorities: passing a federal law that would mandate that each state recognize concealed carry permits from every other state. The House passed the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act on December 6, and it’s moving to the Senate in the new year.

On the surface, this might sound harmless, but dig a little deeper and it quickly becomes clear that this proposal poses serious threats to public safety in the United States.

It’s important to know that standards for issuing permits to allow people to carry concealed guns in public are dangerously lax in many states. In fact, 12 states don’t even require a permit or firearms safety training of any kind to carry hidden, loaded guns in public. If this bill becomes federal law, almost any person from these states would be automatically allowed to carry concealed guns across state lines — even if they don’t meet the standards of the state they’re visiting, such as having passed a background check.

The corporate gun lobby is working hard to trick the public into believing that this proposal is about “bringing order” to the concealed carry laws in our nation — but the reality is this bill will not create a consistent national permit requirement across states. Instead this proposed legislation would keep the confusing patchwork of state concealed carry laws and force every state to recognize permits issued by every other state, even those with dramatically weaker standards.

Here are 7 myths about concealed carry reciprocity the gun lobby wants you to believe…and the facts that bust them:

MYTH 1: Concealed carry reciprocity will make it easy for people to travel with their permits nationwide, similar to how driver’s licenses work.

This myth can be spotted in an op-ed published in the San Diego Union Tribune, in which the author stated: “The concept of reciprocity makes a lot of sense and has worked well in other areas. For example, even though each state controls the issuance of driver’s licenses, all states honor driver’s licenses from each of the other states.”

MYTH BUSTED!

Unlike concealed carry permits, driver’s licenses are standard, verifiable documents that meet almost the same criteria in every state. In fact, in order to be recognized by federal agencies, driver’s licenses must meet federal criteria established by the REAL ID Act that contain physical security features including a photo of its holder and uniform data such as identity, date of birth, principal residence address, etc.

Concealed carry permits, on the other hand, do not contain uniform information or standard security features. Permits’ appearances vary significantly among states: some states issue permits that resemble paper library cards, while others issue permits that lack photo identification. In order to verify the authenticity and validity of a permit, law enforcement would have to contact the issuing agency in the permit holder’s state because no national database — and sometimes no statewide database — containing concealed carry permit information exists.

Furthermore, to obtain a driver’s license, people must also undergo several forms of testing — including a vision exam, exams that test knowledge of driving and relevant laws, and an in-person driving test. Underage applicants in most states must also fulfill practice hours or complete driver’s education classes. Training to obtain a concealed carry permit, however, varies widely throughout the states. A number of states require classroom instruction and live-fire training to obtain a permit to carry concealed. In 19 states, however, individuals do not need to undergo any training to carry concealed. In 12 states, individuals do not even need a permit — no less any training — to carry concealed, loaded firearms in public.

If concealed carry reciprocity becomes law, untrained individuals could carry concealed, loaded firearms nationwide. The lack of identifying data and divergent information on concealed carry permits would present a serious challenge for a law enforcement officers seeking to determine if an individual is lawfully carrying a concealed gun. This would create a lengthy, complicated process that would take law enforcement away from critical policing duties. In many cases, law enforcement could lack the ability to verify if concealed carry permits are forged or stolen, allowing guns to fall into dangerous hands.

MYTH 2: People with concealed carry permits are law-abiding and highly trained.

We noticed this myth get picked up in an editorial published by the Richmond-Times Dispatch, in which the editorial board writes, “As a group, persons with permits to carry concealed firearms are far less likely to commit a crime than the general public.”

MYTH BUSTED!

While many states require concealed carry permit applicants to demonstrate that they have received firearm safety training, the gun lobby has worked aggressively in state capitols to weaken or eliminate training requirements for permit holders.

26 states will let you carry a concealed gun without making sure you know how to shoot one (The Trace)

The most drastic example of the erosion of state standards is the proliferation of “permitless” carry states. In 2011, the last time the U.S. House of Representatives took up a concealed carry reciprocity proposal, three states did not require a permit to carry concealed. In 2013, the last time the U.S. Senate voted on this proposal, four states did not require a permit to carry concealed. Today, 12 states do not require a permit or any training to carry a concealed, loaded handgun in public and 19 additional states do not require any training to obtain a permit. Law enforcement in the 12 “permitless” carry states have no way to know who is carrying concealed guns, let alone if these are trained or law-abiding individuals.

Additionally, many states poorly manage their concealed carry permitting systems. Dangerous flaws in permitting systems in North Carolina, Tennessee, Colorado, and other states have allowed individuals disqualified by criminal convictions, including convicted felons and individuals with outstanding arrest warrants, to nevertheless maintain concealed carry permits. Many of these permit holders go on to commit further crimes.

MYTH 3: Laws that make it easier for people to carry concealed guns will reduce crime. Every year, millions of gun owners and concealed carry permit holders use firearms defensively, thwarting crime and attackers.

In this piece from Breitbart, Second Amendment columnist Awr Hawkins writes, “It is interesting to note that the murder rate dropped by 14 percent while concealed carry permits surged. And “the overall violent crime rate” dropped by 21 percent. This is not what the left tells us will happen if concealed carry expands.”

MYTH BUSTED!

There is no credible statistical evidence that shows that weak concealed carry laws reduce crime. In fact, the evidence suggests that permissive concealed carry laws may actually increase the frequency of some types of crime, such as assault. One recent study found that states that award concealed carry permits to anyone who meets minimum standards experience 13 to 15 percent more violent crime than states with stronger laws. Overall, research confirms the commonsense conclusion that more guns create more opportunities for injury and death, not fewer.

Claims that firearms are used defensively millions time every year have also been widely discredited. Even when a firearm is used in self-defense, which is rare, research shows that a firearm is no more likely to reduce a person’s chance of being injured during a crime than other various forms of protection. One study suggests that carrying a firearm may actually increase a victim’s risk of firearm injury during the commission of a crime.

Few Americans believe the U.S. would be safer if more people carried guns. Just 35 percent of voters surveyed by a June 2017 Quinnipiac Poll believe that the country would be a safer place to live if more people carried guns.

MYTH 4: Concealed carry permit holders who are lawfully able to carry in their state are often considered “accidental criminals” just because they are traveling to another state with a concealed firearm.

In an article for USA Carry, Ben Findlay wrote, “You probably recall the law-abiding Pennsylvania woman with a valid concealed carry license there who was arrested after driving into New Jersey. She was pulled over for a minor traffic violation and happened to casually mention her .38 caliber revolver concealed in her purse and proudly showed her Pennsylvania permit. She was arrested and faced felony charges and a prison term because she was unaware that it was illegal to carry her handgun in New Jersey, while legal in Pennsylvania. After much delay, costs, and procedures, she was pardoned by Governor Chris Christie. The proposed Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 aims to prevent future incidents like this.”

MYTH BUSTED!

Currently, each state decides whether it will recognize concealed carry permits issued by other states. Through reciprocity agreements, states ensure that permit holders from one state can travel to another state with a loaded, concealed firearm without endangering public safety. Concealed carry permit holders can easily check to determine whether their permits are recognized in other states, as states make this information directly available online. Furthermore, if a permit holder wants to travel with a gun through a state that does not recognize his or her permit, the permit holder only needs to properly lock the gun in the trunk of the car — federal law already guarantees the permit holder that authority.

Concealed carry reciprocity would not create a national permitting standard. Instead it would require states to accept all permits and permissions to carry from all other states even if they don’t meet the requirements in that state. The wide array of state laws would remain intact and concealed carry reciprocity would only reinforce the confusing patchwork of state laws that currently exists.

MYTH 5: Concealed carry reciprocity would NOT override existing state and local gun laws governing where people can carry.

You can see this myth in action in this GunsAmerica article that claims: “It’s important to note that the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 does not tell the states that they have to adopt a certain concealed-carry issuing standard. In other words, the states retain the authority to determine the regulations and process for one to carry in public.”

MYTH BUSTED!

The House version of concealed carry reciprocity would override a host of state and local laws that currently prohibit permit holders from carrying guns in places like bars, daycare centers, places of worship, athletic events, and near polling places. These laws allow private property owners to prohibit guns on their property, and enable law enforcement to anticipate where they are most and least likely to encounter armed individuals. For example:

In Florida and many other states, a concealed handgun license doesn’t authorize the license holder to carry a concealed handgun into a bar.

Administrative regulations in Indiana prohibit the carrying of guns in certain casinos and childcare centers.

Louisiana prohibits the carrying of concealed handguns in churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship, unless special requirements are met.

These kinds of laws are common across the country, and law enforcement, private property owners, and the public rely on them. Concealed carry reciprocity would override these laws, allowing guns in spaces most people assume are gun-free.

MYTH 6: Concealed carry reciprocity doesn’t make it any easier to buy a gun.

You can find this myth in action in an oped published in The Hill, by U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson who stated: “For one, nationwide concealed carry doesn’t make it any easier to buy a gun.”

MYTH BUSTED!

Gun traffickers frequently cross state lines to obtain guns from states with the weakest laws. Concealed carry reciprocity would make it easier for them to do that. It would tie the hands of law enforcement officers who encounter armed, out-of-state residents, who may be trafficking guns.

Under the House version of concealed carry reciprocity, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, a law enforcement officer who pulls over a person with a permit could face a lawsuit for questioning the person. An unscrupulous concealed carry permit holder would be able to gather large number of guns in states with weak gun laws, and then cross state lines unencumbered by questioning at traffic stops. Those guns would then be available in the criminal market, making us all less safe.

MYTH 7: Law enforcement officers support concealed carry reciprocity.

In this op-ed by John Lott, published by Fox News, Lott writes, “Police officers have very difficult jobs and put their lives on the line every day. What can we do to help make sure that they can come home to their families? One way is to let law-abiding citizens carry guns.”

MYTH BUSTED!

Major law enforcement groups, including Major Cities Chiefs Association, Police Foundation, and Police Executive Research Forum, oppose concealed carry legislation. The House version of concealed carry reciprocity goes a step beyond the Senate version and exposes law enforcement to personal litigation if officers mistakenly question a person’s legal authority to possess a firearm. As a result, officers would fear conducting thorough investigations and would be deterred from effectively doing their jobs.

In a letter urging Congress to oppose the House bill, 9 national law enforcement organizations, including the groups referenced above, state that “The lack of consistent and in many cases the absence of training standards coupled with the exposure of agencies and police officers to tort claims present an unacceptable risk to the public, specifically our law enforcement personnel. We reject the idea that one state’s approach to carrying a concealed firearm will work across every state, city or community. States and localities should have the right to legislate concealed carry.”

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About Us: Led by former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and Captain Mark Kelly, Giffords amplifies courageous voices speaking out about gun violence in America.