Justice Education Security

Author: jacob

  • Ohio and New Mexico Sign Concealed Carry Reciprocity Agreement

    (COLUMBUS/SANTA FE)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and New Mexico Department of Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Gorden E. Eden, Jr. have signed an agreement that permits reciprocity between their states for citizens who have valid concealed carry permits.

    “I am pleased that this agreement between Ohio and New Mexico will allow Ohioans who have concealed carry permits the same rights to carry a concealed handgun in the State of New Mexico, as well as New Mexicans who have concealed carry permits to do the same in Ohio” said Attorney General DeWine.

    Secretary Eden reiterated those remarks.  “As proponents of the Second Amendment, the New Mexico Department of Public Safety is happy to extend concealed carry rights to licensed Ohioans, as those same rights are extended to licensed New Mexicans who visit Ohio.”

    Ohio law permits the Attorney General to enter into written agreements with other states whose laws are “substantially comparable” to Ohio’s eligibility requirements for a license to carry a concealed handgun.  In New Mexico, this authority falls under the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.

    New Mexico’s and Ohio’s concealed carry laws are very similar to one another.  Both states require a background check for long-term residents of their state or an FBI III check for short-term residents of their states, and both require training in order to be eligible for a concealed carry license.

    Concealed carry permit holders will be required to comply with all of the other state’s laws regarding possession, transportation, storage and use of concealed weapons and all other applicable laws except those regarding issuance, suspension, revocation and renewal of concealed weapons licenses, which remain within the power of the issuing state.
    Each state will make their verification systems available to the other to be able to check the status of the other state’s concealed carry licenses.

    The agreement remains in force unless statutory authority for it is withdrawn by either of the state’s legislatures or terminated in writing by either party upon 30 days notice.

    With this signing, Ohio and New Mexico each now have reciprocity agreements with 22 states.

    Media Contacts

    Dan Tierney, AGO: 614-466-3840
    Lt. Robert McDonald, NMDPS: 505-827-3349

    Documents

    Reciprocity Agreement (PDF)

     

    Source: http://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Briefing-Room/News-Releases/December-2011/Ohio-and-New-Mexico-Sign-Concealed-Carry-Reciproci

  • 3 Factors When Buying A Handgun for Personal Protection

    I have been teaching firearm training classes for 5 years. That is a relatively short amount of time compared to many of my mentors. Just the same there is one recurring topic that most students really want to discuss with me… What Gun To Buy. I try to avoid this topic of conversation for several reasons. First off, there are far to many opinions among gun enthusiasts to make this a safe topic of discussion. Gun people are extremely passionate and opinionated and I just assume avoid a discussion about why any certain make is the best thing since sliced bread. Also, I believe that each individual has unique needs in a handgun and that makes it difficult to give meaningful advice. All that being said, I am outlining some basic principles that I believe can lead anyone to buy the correct firearm for their situation.

    First, please understand that you need to shop based on your need. There are many different uses (even within the self-defense category) for which you may intend to use your firearm. Some of these may include: hunting, backpacking, to keep in the car, to keep in the house, to carry on my person, to carry in luggage or in a handbag/purse, etc.

    Beyond determining your need you also need to consider your body type and economic situation. I’m 5′ 8” and about 170 lbs. I don’t have a lot of upper body muscle and can’t handle some of the higher caliber weapons as effectively as I wish. Some of us have small fingers, fat fingers, etc. Your economic situation is crucial to consider not just when considering the cost of the weapon but also in considering the cost of the ammunition. Your tendancy to get out and train with your firearm may be the single most important factor in saving your life. May sure you select a firearm that you can afford to shoot often.

    The last generic consideration, before I outline the 3 factors, is your level of expertise. The more trained and proficient you become the more your needs in a firearm may change.

    With those considerations in place let me put forth three important factors when selecting a caliber of weapon.

    1. Stopping Power – Effectiveness. Without neglecting the next two factors, you want to get the most powerful weapon you can. There are some calibers that nobody would debate as to their efficiency. For example, the .22 long rifle round is not something you would want to bet your life on. The .45 ACP is something you could almost guarantee is going to stop someone. Anywhere in the middle is debatable depending on who you ask.
    2. Ammo Capacity. More ammunition is always a good thing. Some calibers of handguns, although effective, may reduce the total amount of ammunition you can carry in the firearm. Common examples are the .38 Special and the .357. Both are debatable in their effectiveness but perhaps too big of a round to be practical for concealed carry.
    3. Size. You must select a firearm that will be comfortable to carry and to use. In the concealed carry world there are as many different types of holsters and options to conceal as there are handguns to choose from. Don’t buy a Desert Eagle if you plan on carrying it on your waist. Your back will ache after a few hours and you may have an issue with sitting down and standing up. Also, consider your body type as we discussed earlier. Buy something appropriate for your strength and size.

    Its not easy to find the perfect gun for your and for your needs. This is made much less easy if you are trying to buy one firearm that will serve many needs. Handguns aren’t cheap but remember that your life may be on the line and this is the tool that could save it.

    Jacob S Paulsen

  • Salt Lake Tribune Publishes Story About Illegal Gun Sales in Utah

    Yesterday the 15th of December, 2011 the Sale Lake Tribune published a news story entitled “Group says illegal gun sales common in Utah, other states.” Like most news stories about guns this has inspired a long list of comments on either side of the issue.

    Essentially the practice of private gun sales is in question. Private, one on one gun sales are legal in Utah. The statue only requires sellers to make sure the buyer is of legal age, lives in the same state, and naturally isn’t planning to commit a crime with the weapon. The research conducted is suggesting that sellers should also inquire as to the buyers ability to pass a background check, or at very least restrict the sale from buyers who make a statement about not being able to pass the background check.

    This news story has made me think a little about private sales of firearms. Let me put forward the following recommendations to those of you who are considering selling a gun privately:

    • Be careful about your advertising. When posting a classified ad about your firearm for sale, do not include your city or neighborhood. When you receive phone calls only offer to meet potential buyers in a public place, such as the parking lot of a busy grocery store. Never give out any information that would tip the buyer as to your address or place of residence.
    • Before you meet with a potential buyer prepare a bill of sale. It doesn’t need to be complex or legally worded. Just create a document that includes a space to insert the time and date of the purchase, the names of both parties, and the serial number of the weapon. Also include the make and model of the weapon along with any other identifiable traits. Print two copies to bring with you.
    • When meeting with the buyer be discreet. If you are in a busy and public place it won’t help your situation to openly display assault rifles for passers by to see.
    • Verify that the weapon is empty and separate any ammunition from the firearm or its case.
    • Ask to see the buyers photo identification and verify that they are a resident of the state and that they are 21 years of age or older.
    • Ask them for what purpose they are buying a gun and if they feel they could pass the required background check. If they say anything that makes you feel uncomfortable ask for more details. “Why do you feel you couldn’t pass the background check?”
    • Use your best judgement about the buyer. If you make the sale ask the buyer to sign your copy of the bill of sale.

  • NRAU: NRA Program for Local Universities

    The NRA has announced a special program designed to help educate college level students about gun rights, current legislation, and the gun control debate. I for one am very excited about this program. No matter what side of the issue people stand on, we can all use more EDUCATION. Granted you could expect this 2 hour seminar to be a little one sided but there are sure to be many golden nuggets of information.

    Here is the press release from the NRA:

    Thursday, December 01, 2011

    In an effort to educate the next generation of gun rights advocates on exercising and maintaining their constitutionally guaranteed Right to Keep and Bear Arms, NRA has developed a comprehensive program for college students called “NRA University”– NRA U for short.

    NRA U is a two-hour training seminar for college students interested in learning more about NRA, the Second Amendment, gun safety, legislative threats to gun rights and the gun control debate. NRA-ILA staff will travel to a college campus and provide seminar attendees with the tools they’ll need to become more effective activists in the fight to protect our freedom, both on and off campus.

    Staff will address the myths of gun control, covering topics such as the history of the Second Amendment and the use of guns for self-defense, and provide the NRA’s solutions to reducing gun crime and accidents.

    In addition to ensuring a more balanced discussion of this issue on campus, NRA staff will talk about the various NRA programs in which students can participate. Students will also learn about opportunities to work with like-minded activists in their area.

    Students will receive free fraternal items, such as NRA U hats, t-shirts, and stickers.

    Upcoming NRA U Seminars are scheduled for:

    University of Nevada – Las Vegas January 23

    Stetson Law School (Florida) February 27

    Florida State University February 28

    University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia March 15

    Indiana State University March 26

    Washington & Lee University TBA

     

    Contact NRA-ILA today to bring NRA U to your campus this spring! And be sure to join our group on Facebook too.

    For more information, please visit the NRA University Home Page at http://www.nraila.org/nrau/, e-mail us at [email protected], or call us at 800-392-VOTE (8683).

  • Liberty University in Lynchburg Virginia Removes Gun Ban

    Guns on campus are a sensitive issue in Virginia after the 2008 Virginia Tech incident. Now a private Christian University has removed a ban that previously banned all firearms from campus property. The new policy allows visitors, students, faculty, and staff with valid concealed weapons permits to store weapons in locked cars. Students can also apply for permission from campus police to carry a firearm on the exterior grounds. The policy also allows some faculty and staff to carry weapons inside buildings with permission granted on a case-by-case basis by campus police.

    Read more here…

  • Sen. Orrin G. Hatch Speaks Out About Firearm Legistlation

    Recently Sen Orrin Hatch wrote an article entitled “Protecting our constitutional right to keep and bear arms requires constant vigilance.” Its a great summary of some of the wins that we have achieved at the national level over the last several years. It also speaks out clearly as to the Utah philosophy in regards to firearms.

    The original article is found here: http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2011/11/04/protecting-our-constitutional-right-to-keep-and-bear-arms-requires-constant-vigilance-opinion/

    For your convenience I’m posting an excerpt here.

    Gun owners in America know they can never rest easy. That’s because Americans’ constitutional right to keep and bear arms is always under fire from the political left and their allies in the White House, Congress and the media.

    It doesn’t take much to prompt another assault on our Second Amendment Rights. All it requires is one high-profile case involving a criminal and a firearm, and there’s no shortage of liberal legislators and pundits willing to tar law-abiding gun owners with the same brush and call for gun control.

    In that never-ending war, I have found it better to be proactive than reactive. It is better to take the legislative initiative rather than wait for the next incursion from the anti-gun crowd before taking action. That is why I have spearheaded many important initiatives over the years to uphold our right to bear arms.

    In October, for example, Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and I introduced the Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act, which brings gun laws into the 21st century by allowing the interstate sale of firearms and getting rid of antiquated and unnecessary restrictions on interstate firearms transactions that hurt business and jobs.

    Specifically, the legislation would remove a number of restrictions from the Gun Control Act of 1968, which only allows dealers to sell rifles or shotguns to residents of a different state subject to a tedious series of conditions. These restrictions are aimed at stopping buyers from evading background checks.

    Since 1998, however, all people buying firearms from dealers in the U.S. are subject to a sophisticated computer background check under the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which is much more advanced and renders the restrictions in the 1968 law obsolete. The current restrictions, unless changed, will continue to interfere with interstate commerce by hindering or preventing these sales. This bill would put a stop to that.

    On another front, Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas and I, along with 43 other senators, recently wrote President Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, to oppose ratification of the United Nations’ Arms Trade Treaty that could jeopardize our national sovereignty and restrict the rights of American gun owners.

    Utahns and other Americans won’t tolerate this White House or Congress surrendering our national sovereignty to U.N. bureaucrats so they can dictate to us our liberties and freedoms. As your elected representative, I won’t tolerate it either.

    Read more…

  • Nevada Passes Law Allowing Firearms in State Parks

    The legislative commission in Nevada has repealed a law that prohibited carrying firearms in State parks. The law still prohibits discharge of a firearm in state parks with obvious exceptions. Nevada state law still protects the rights of self defense of course.

    As you know Federal law in regards to National Parks echos that of State Parks where the National Park is located. That means that the carry of firearms inside of National Parks inside of Nevada are also allowed.

  • House Passes National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill

    Well, the house finally passed a bill that essentially would make all states who issue concealed carry permits, honor permits from any state. This would take a lot of the guess work out of the national travel problems that current concealed carry holders face.

    Currently only Illinois and DC do not honor any form of a concealed carry permit meaning that your current permit would be valid in the remaining 49 states if this bill were signed into law.

    This still has to go through the senate etc and in an election year like 2012 this bill could be a topic that comes out in some debates!