Alaska PASSES A VERMONT STYLE CARRY! - The Firearms Forum

WAGCEVP · 06-12-2003, 06:05 PM

June 12 Neal Knox Update -- WOW!!!

The Alaska Legislature passed -- and yesterday Alaska Gov. Frank
Murkowski signed -- a REAL Right To Carry law.

If not disqualified from owning a gun, 90 days from now an Alaskan
can drop one in her purse or tuck one under his jacket and go about their
law-abiding business -- just like in Vermont.

The new law does not eliminate the state's concealed handgun permit
program -- which requires training, fees and the like. Nor does it change
prohibitions against carrying firearms into courthouses, schoolyards,
bars and domestic violence shelters.

The governor's office told Associated Press that Alaskans could
still apply for a permit in order to carry a concealed weapon in other
states or to be exempt from background checks when purchasing firearms.

The law's chief sponsor, Rep. Eric Croft, D-Anchorage, told AP he
had gotten tired of continually making minor improvements to Alaska's gun
laws. "I object to the government putting a precondition on that
constitutional right (to carry a weapon). I'm presumed to be a responsible
citizen until proven otherwise," Croft said.

During yesterday's signing, Gov. Murkowski praised the legislature
for passing the bill, and NRA for protecting Second Amendment rights.

But NRA has never before -- to my knowledge -- pressed for a
true Right To Carry law, and, on occasion, has threatened to politically
downgrade legislators who supported Vermont-type laws in the states (as now
U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave [R-Colo.] can attest).

NRA has refused to back Vermont-style bills on the grounds that such
an elimination of most concealed carry prohibitions cannot be passed. They
say it's hard enough, sometimes impossible, to get a bill passed and signed
even if it has extensive training, high fees, and broad restrictions on
where the license is valid.

That's usually true, but not always. One house in Alabama
passed a Vermont-style carry law a few years back, but NRA State and Local
didn't lift a finger to support it -- other than signing a letter after the
bill had passed the Assembly.

In some states -- as in Ohio -- concealed carry has long been stalled
by strong opposition from law enforcement and the political establishment
while our forces are divided between pro-gun groups willing to accept a
"Texas-style" restrictive license and those determined to accept nothing
less than a Vermont-style law.

ILA argues internally that if a rural state with a friendly
legislature and governor -- like Alaska -- passes a Vermont-style law,
pro-gun forces in states with unfriendly legislatures and governors will be
even further divided on what kind of law they'll work to pass.

Amazingly, even with "another Vermont law" already a reality,
NRA hasn't yet mentioned the new Alaska law. I'm embarrassed to admit that
I didn't even know the bill was in the works. The first I heard of it was a
call last night from son Jeff, who had talked to ILA Liaison Brian Judy, who
works out of the semi-independent Sacramento office.

I verified it by reading this morning's Anchorage Daily News
(http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/3280484p-3310005c.html).

Jeff said Brian -- who is married to my former NRA secretary --
is "higher than a kite." I don't doubt it. And deservedly so.

He and the Alaskans have raised the bar.

Given the total lack of problems with concealed carry licensing
laws -- whether or not they require any training, whether or not they have
broad restrictions on carry, and whether or not they require big fees --
it's time to begin pushing for REAL Right To Carry.

Like Vermont. Like Alaska's.

And if the best we can do is something like Minnesota's new law --
which is a dandy, as licensing laws go -- then we should pass it. Then,
like Alaska Rep. Eric Croft, use the non-problems with licensed citizens to
press for the kind of right the Second Amendment was intended to protect.

Logansdad · 06-12-2003, 07:36 PM

I was born and raised in Alaska...almost all my relatives still live there. It almost makes me homesick...but I will never forget how cold it gets in January and February

armedandsafe · 06-13-2003, 02:03 PM

I get homesick for Alaska, occasionaly, too. Then I remember shoveling snow at least twice a month for 14 straight months.

Logansdad · 06-13-2003, 09:31 PM

14 straight months ?..not in Alaska

06-12-2003, 06:05 PM	#1
WAGCEVP V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 179	Alaska PASSES A VERMONT STYLE CARRY! June 12 Neal Knox Update -- WOW!!! The Alaska Legislature passed -- and yesterday Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski signed -- a REAL Right To Carry law. If not disqualified from owning a gun, 90 days from now an Alaskan can drop one in her purse or tuck one under his jacket and go about their law-abiding business -- just like in Vermont. The new law does not eliminate the state's concealed handgun permit program -- which requires training, fees and the like. Nor does it change prohibitions against carrying firearms into courthouses, schoolyards, bars and domestic violence shelters. The governor's office told Associated Press that Alaskans could still apply for a permit in order to carry a concealed weapon in other states or to be exempt from background checks when purchasing firearms. The law's chief sponsor, Rep. Eric Croft, D-Anchorage, told AP he had gotten tired of continually making minor improvements to Alaska's gun laws. "I object to the government putting a precondition on that constitutional right (to carry a weapon). I'm presumed to be a responsible citizen until proven otherwise," Croft said. During yesterday's signing, Gov. Murkowski praised the legislature for passing the bill, and NRA for protecting Second Amendment rights. But NRA has never before -- to my knowledge -- pressed for a true Right To Carry law, and, on occasion, has threatened to politically downgrade legislators who supported Vermont-type laws in the states (as now U.S. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave [R-Colo.] can attest). NRA has refused to back Vermont-style bills on the grounds that such an elimination of most concealed carry prohibitions cannot be passed. They say it's hard enough, sometimes impossible, to get a bill passed and signed even if it has extensive training, high fees, and broad restrictions on where the license is valid. That's usually true, but not always. One house in Alabama passed a Vermont-style carry law a few years back, but NRA State and Local didn't lift a finger to support it -- other than signing a letter after the bill had passed the Assembly. In some states -- as in Ohio -- concealed carry has long been stalled by strong opposition from law enforcement and the political establishment while our forces are divided between pro-gun groups willing to accept a "Texas-style" restrictive license and those determined to accept nothing less than a Vermont-style law. ILA argues internally that if a rural state with a friendly legislature and governor -- like Alaska -- passes a Vermont-style law, pro-gun forces in states with unfriendly legislatures and governors will be even further divided on what kind of law they'll work to pass. Amazingly, even with "another Vermont law" already a reality, NRA hasn't yet mentioned the new Alaska law. I'm embarrassed to admit that I didn't even know the bill was in the works. The first I heard of it was a call last night from son Jeff, who had talked to ILA Liaison Brian Judy, who works out of the semi-independent Sacramento office. I verified it by reading this morning's Anchorage Daily News (http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/3280484p-3310005c.html). Jeff said Brian -- who is married to my former NRA secretary -- is "higher than a kite." I don't doubt it. And deservedly so. He and the Alaskans have raised the bar. Given the total lack of problems with concealed carry licensing laws -- whether or not they require any training, whether or not they have broad restrictions on carry, and whether or not they require big fees -- it's time to begin pushing for REAL Right To Carry. Like Vermont. Like Alaska's. And if the best we can do is something like Minnesota's new law -- which is a dandy, as licensing laws go -- then we should pass it. Then, like Alaska Rep. Eric Croft, use the non-problems with licensed citizens to press for the kind of right the Second Amendment was intended to protect. __________________ The Second Amendment IS Homeland Security ! -->

06-12-2003, 07:36 PM	#2
Logansdad V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Alabama's Gulf Coast Posts: 222	I was born and raised in Alaska...almost all my relatives still live there. It almost makes me homesick...but I will never forget how cold it gets in January and February __________________ "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." Jesus, Luke 22:36 "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." Galileo It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it..

06-13-2003, 09:31 PM	#4
Logansdad V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Alabama's Gulf Coast Posts: 222	14 straight months ?..not in Alaska __________________ "Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one." Jesus, Luke 22:36 "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." Galileo It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it..

06-13-2003, 02:03 PM	#3
armedandsafe Former Guest Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Moses Lake, WA Posts: 10,344	I get homesick for Alaska, occasionaly, too. Then I remember shoveling snow at least twice a month for 14 straight months.