CNN "American Morning" - Transcript

Interview

CNN "American Morning" - Transcript

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ROBERTS: Well, it's one of those issues considered a third rail in American politics. Gun control. And it's taking center stage on Capitol Hill. After some really heated debate senators scheduled to vote today on a measure that would let people carry concealed weapons across state lines.

It's known as the Thune Amendment and was introduced by South Dakota Republican senator, John Thune.

We want to get opinion from both sides of the debate this morning. We're going to speak in a moment with New York mayor Mike Bloomberg who is against the proposal, but first let's bring in a co- sponsor of the amendment, Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming.

Senator, it's good to see you this morning. We know that this is a popular measure in Wyoming, that you are a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association. But as a practical matter, can you tell us why it's good public policy to allow people to carry concealed weapons across state lines?

SEN. JOHN BARRASSO (R), WYOMING: Well, right now people in 48 different state cans have a license to carry a concealed weapon but people travel, we have truck drivers on our roads, people traveling for vacation in their vehicles, and if you have a license you've gone through the process, you should be able to use that license in other states. It should apply like a driver's license.

You know the people that are getting concealed weapon permit those are basically the law-abiding citizens. The criminals are not in any way going down to the courthouse, getting fingerprinted for the purpose of getting a license to carry a concealed weapon.

These are the best citizens, not the worst and I think this is in keeping with our Second Amendment rights, our rights to own and to bear arms.

ROBERTS: But here's one of the issues is that the requirements for a concealed carry permit vary from state to state. There are 19 states that require a gun safety program, but under this measure you could, say, get a concealed carry permit in the state of Mississippi which requires no training at all, then travel to Dallas where permit applicants must go at least 10 hours of training. So what you're doing here is you're taking different requirements and kind of leveling the playing field at the federal level. Isn't this a matter of states' rights here?

BARRASSO: Well, you have different requirements for driver's licenses as well in terms of what age they get them and if they need drivers education and all those sorts of things. Certainly we want to make sure that there is safety involved with people who are carrying concealed weapons.

I think training is a very important part of that. But the law of the state where that person happens to be at the time are the laws that apply in terms of if you're allowed to carry a gun into a bar, into a restaurant. It's the home state law that applies. State rights continue to apply there.

ROBERTS: There are also concerns, though, that the -- you know, states that ban concealed carry by people who have committed certain crimes might be able -- might have to accept permits from states where they don't have those restrictions.

Senator Charles Schumer here from the state of New York said, quote, "Right now you walk down the streets of New York or Nassau County or West Chester County, you can have the solace of knowing that if someone has a gun on them they've gone through a rigorous background check," because New York does has very strict laws when it comes to conceal to carry.

He goes on to say, "After this law you could have no such comfort." What do you say to that?

BARRASSO: The Department of Justice has shown that criminals will avoid actually committing crimes if they think that the victim may be carrying a concealed weapon, is armed. So I think that carrying a concealed weapon is a sign of self-defense, self-protection and I think it actually lowers crime.

People are afraid that this is going to -- you know have blood in the streets and everyone is going to be armed and this is going to be the Wild, Wild West all over again. You're not going to see any of those things. I have a concealed weapon permit in Wyoming. I've had it for over a dozen years and have it with me now and I will tell you this is the way to go. The vote is going to be at high noon today. It needs 60 votes to pass in the Senate. And for people that have for gun control they're going to be against this. But for people who are for the second amendment constitutional rights of American citizens to own and bare arms, they should support this.

ROBERTS: Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, it's good to talk to you this morning.

Thanks very much.

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