Gun Shows Today

Reciprocity and Reciprocal Carry, Part 9 in a 9 Part Series: The National Right-To-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011 A topic of intense interest is H.R. 822. This is titled the “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011.” This bill was introduced on February 18, 2011. The bill proposes to amend 18 U.S.C. 926C, which is where the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 was codified. You may remember from its brief mention in the prior blog post that this law allows qualified off duty and retired police officers to carry a concealed handgun in other states so long as they follow Read More »

Reciprocity and Reciprocal Carry, Part 8 in a 9 Part Series:    Right to Interstate Transportation of Firearms   Although the right to reciprocal carry comes from agreements between states to recognize the other’s licenses to carry, a number of important rights that allow reciprocal carry come from federal law. Specifically, there would be no ability to engage in reciprocal carry in other states without the federal right to interstate transportation. Precisely, if you had to traverse a state that did not have reciprocity, then there would be no ability to carry the handgun in a Read More »

Reciprocity and Reciprocal Carry, Part 7 in a 9 Part Series: Law Enforcement Encounters in Other States In perhaps a controversial blog in this series on reciprocal carry, I put forth what most attorneys could indicate are general rules for law enforcement encounters in foreign states with reciprocal carry. This blog covers some common issues that may arise, such as identifying yourself to law enforcement officers, to what position a defense attorney, without knowing the specific facts of a case, would take with the use of deadly force. You should know and understand such general rules, or Read More »

Reciprocity and Reciprocal Carry, Part 6 in a 9 Part Series: How To Research and Determine a Foreign State’s Law Carrying a handgun in another state by reciprocity is a big responsibility. The old adage, “Ignorance of the law is no excuse”, is really true. While a judge or jury may ultimately apply the law in such a way that you will not be convicted for a technical violation, given you may not have the mens rea or criminal intent, you should not assume this. Moreover, this would likely occur only after an expensive and gut-wrenching trial in a state where you do not live. This should Read More »

Reciprocity and Reciprocal Carry, Part 5 in a 9 Part Series: Common Areas and/or Events in States Where a License May Not Be Valid For Carry In Part 4, I touched upon a key point that every person who carries a handgun with a license to carry in his or her own state, or in a reciprocal state, must understand to avoid continual violations of penal law and risk of arrest and prosecution: A license to carry a handgun is not a blanket right to carry throughout (anywhere in) the state. There are numerous places that always except licensees (such as federal buildings, as the federal government Read More »

Reciprocity and Reciprocal Carry, Part 4 in a 9 Part Series: Trouble Sports and/or Myths Relating To Reciprocal Carry In Part 4 of this blog series on reciprocity, I analyze 5 trouble spots and/or myths pervasive with reciprocal carry. I find even highly knowledgeable people in reciprocity harbor incorrect legal notions. Reciprocal State’s Law. A (troubling) discussion I have had several times over the years concerns following a reciprocal state’s laws in all regards and aspects when carrying in that foreign state, state “Y”. As the flawed logic seems to go, my state, state Read More »

Reciprocity and Reciprocal Carry, Part 3 of a 9 Part Series: Resident and Non-Resident Licenses (To Carry a Handgun) Reciprocity is academic consideration if you do not have a license to carry issued by your state or your license is not recognized in the foreign state in which you intend or need to carry a handgun. This is the third installment of my blog and covers material familiar to many readers, resident and non-resident licenses. A. Resident Licenses, “Shall Issue” or “May Issue”. Many states (probably because it is a revenue source) require residents to have their own Read More »