District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009

Floor Speech

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 2009 -- (Senate - February 25, 2009)

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AMENDMENT NO. 579

Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I call up my amendment that is at the desk, and I ask for its immediate consideration.

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Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, my amendment is a very simple amendment. It allows individuals the right to carry a lawfully concealed firearm across State lines while at the same time respecting the laws of the host State. It is very similar to legislation I introduced earlier, a stand-alone bill, S. 371, which currently has 19 Senate cosponsors.

As I believe and the Supreme Court found last June, the second amendment of the Constitution provides law-abiding citizens have the right to possess firearms in order to defend themselves and their families. As such, I believe a State's border should not be a limit on this right. Today, there are 48 States that have laws permitting some form of concealed carry. While some States with concealed carry laws grant reciprocity to permit holders from other select States, what my amendment would do is eliminate the need for these laws by allowing an individual to carry a concealed firearm across State lines if they either have a valid permit or if under their State of residence they are legally entitled to do so.

After entering another State, the individual must respect the laws of the host State as they apply to conceal-and-carry permits, including the specific types of locations in which firearms may not be carried.

Reliable empirical research shows that States with concealed carry laws enjoy significantly lower violent crime rates than those States that do not. For example, for every year a State has a concealed carry law, the murder rate declines by 3 percent, rape by 2 percent, and robberies by over 2 percent.

My amendment is relevant to this debate because it underscores the selective support that the District of Columbia has when it comes to individual rights such as the second amendment, and together with Senator Ensign's amendment will increase these rights. Specifically, anytime the word ``State'' is mentioned throughout my amendment, DC is also explicitly mentioned as well.

My amendment is a common-sense measure that will strengthen public safety throughout the Nation. And I would hope if the Senate is willing to pass the unconstitutional legislation that is before us--the underlying bill creating an additional Member of Congress within the District of Columbia--then the Senate should also be able and willing to pass amendments which are constitutional and protect each citizen's second amendment rights.

Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield the floor.

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