Congress Abandons Responsibility for $50 Million

Traditionally whenever a public safety problem has presented itself, Congress has taken steps to eliminate or reduce the risk of deadly events reoccurring.

When highway deaths peaked in the 1960s, Congress mandated seatbelts.

Actress Jayne Mansfield died when her car rear-ended a tractor-trailer, and she was decapitated. Congress responded by requiring all 18-wheelers have ‘Mansfield bars’ on the trailers.

When public concern about football players’ propensity to concussions rose, Congress earmarked $16 million to study the problem and develop solutions.

Many are wondering why a different response when it comes to guns.

On October 1, a single shooter in Las Vegas killed 58 persons and wounded 489. In Sutherland Springs, Texas, a lone gunman went into a church on a Sunday morning, killed 26 people and injured twenty more.

What did Congress do? It responded by making transportation of guns easier.

Congress Responds to Dual Tragedies

In a 231 to 198 vote, the House of Representatives passes legislation on ti which will permit gun buyers with concealed weapons privileges to cross state lines with their weapons.

The bill, called the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act allows residents from those jurisdictions with relaxed restrictions on hidden weapons to bypass states with stricter gun laws. For instance, a Mississippi resident who does not need a permit to carry a concealed gun, would e allowed to bring their guns into New York where residents are required to show a need for self-defense to carry absenta permit.

“A permit to carry a pistol or revolver, not otherwise restricted as to place or time of possession, is valid around the state,” says Arkady Bukh, a noted New York Criminal defense lawyer.  ”In New York City a special permit granting validity is issued by the NYC police commissioner.”

Gabby Giffords, a past Arizona Congresswoman who endured a 2012 shooting, said, “Congress has failed the American people. After a pair of our country’s worst mass shootings, Congress took direction from the gun lobby.”

The CCRA was initially introduced by Representative Richard Hudson from North Carolina and bundled with the Fix NICS bill which would force agencies to maintain thorough records in the federal background check system.

“I support both bills, but recognize if they are combined, it makes it harder to pass the Fix NICS bill,” Senator John Cornyn of Texas told reporters.

The CCRA is the National Rifle Association’s first big win during the Trump administration.

Big Win

The NRA spent around $50 million in 2016 to help elect  Trump and has labeled the reciprocity legislation the “highest legislative priority in Congress.”

The victory comes as Americans nationwide are calling for increased gun control. A recent Gallup poll found over 60% of Americans are in favor of tighter gun control laws.

Jerry Nelson is an American freelance travel writer now living the expat life in Argentina. At last count, Jerry has traveled to — and worked in — 155 countries. Never far from his coffee and Marlboros, he is always interested in discussing future writing assignments. Email him today and join the million or so who follow him on Twitter.

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