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ALASKA RECIPROSITY GUN BILL PASSES
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Gun bill passes
HOUSE: Porter says concealed-carry measure goes too far.
By Cathy Brown
The Associated Press
(Published: April 13, 2002)
Juneau -- Anyone with a permit to carry a concealed weapon in another state could also carry a gun in Alaska under a bill that narrowly passed the House on Friday.
Rep. Jeannette James, R-North Pole, said the change would also allow Alaskans to carry their weapons in more states, which will give them security while on vacation.
"My personal opinion is people who are law-abiding should have the right to carry concealed if they want to," James said.
But House Speaker Brian Porter, R-Anchorage, said Senate Bill 242 -- which has already passed the Senate -- would let people from states with far less stringent laws than Alaska's carry their guns here.
A former police chief, Porter took the unusual step of coming down onto the House floor to speak against the bill.
"It is time to finally, to the gun lobby, say you have gone far enough," Porter said. "The risk you present is too great for this state."
To be eligible for a concealed-carry permit in Alaska, a person must be 21 years old, have no more than two class A misdemeanors within six years and no felonies, submit to a background check with fingerprints and complete a firearms safety course. About 15,000 Alaskans have permits.
Deputy Public Safety Commissioner Del Smith said of 39 states that have concealed handgun programs, 17 have less restrictive standards than Alaska. Some grant permits to people at age 18 and require no safety course.
Porter said when he reluctantly agreed to Alaska's initial concealed carry law, he was told the compromise was acceptable to the gun lobby.
"Since then, there has been amendment after amendment after amendment," Porter said. "This to me is the final step too far."
Alaska's law, passed in 1994, has been changed several times to loosen rules on where concealed guns can be carried and by whom, Smith said. Changes have included deleting a list of misdemeanor convictions that would make a person ineligible and removing a requirement that applicants disclose treatment for mental illness.
The original law recognized no permits from other states, but was later changed to recognize permits from states that recognized Alaska's or had standards at least as stringent as Alaska's, Smith said.
James said this year's proposed change makes it more likely that more states will recognize Alaska's permits. That is particularly important since Sept. 11 has raised worries about self-defense, she said.
"This greatly expands the amount of places Alaskans could go to visit and be able to protect themselves while they were there," James said.
James said few of the problems anticipated from concealed-carry laws have come to pass.
The bill passed the House 22-8, but only after Reps. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, and Bill Williams, R-Ketchikan, changed their original no votes to yes. Twenty-one votes are required to pass a bill.
Voting against the bill were Reps. Ethan Berkowitz, D-Anchorage; Reggie Joule, D-Kotzebue; Beth Kerttula, D-Juneau; Bill Hudson, R-Juneau; Drew Scalzi, R-Homer; Jim Whitaker, R-Fairbanks; and Porter. Ten members were absent.
Berkowitz gave notice he may ask that the bill be reconsidered Monday. If the outcome does not change, the bill will go to Gov. Tony Knowles for consideration.
Knowles Press Secretary Bob King said the governor has serious concerns about the bill, but would not say whether he would veto it.
http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/929999p-1032924c.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
HOUSE: Porter says concealed-carry measure goes too far.
By Cathy Brown
The Associated Press
(Published: April 13, 2002)
Juneau -- Anyone with a permit to carry a concealed weapon in another state could also carry a gun in Alaska under a bill that narrowly passed the House on Friday.
Rep. Jeannette James, R-North Pole, said the change would also allow Alaskans to carry their weapons in more states, which will give them security while on vacation.
"My personal opinion is people who are law-abiding should have the right to carry concealed if they want to," James said.
But House Speaker Brian Porter, R-Anchorage, said Senate Bill 242 -- which has already passed the Senate -- would let people from states with far less stringent laws than Alaska's carry their guns here.
A former police chief, Porter took the unusual step of coming down onto the House floor to speak against the bill.
"It is time to finally, to the gun lobby, say you have gone far enough," Porter said. "The risk you present is too great for this state."
To be eligible for a concealed-carry permit in Alaska, a person must be 21 years old, have no more than two class A misdemeanors within six years and no felonies, submit to a background check with fingerprints and complete a firearms safety course. About 15,000 Alaskans have permits.
Deputy Public Safety Commissioner Del Smith said of 39 states that have concealed handgun programs, 17 have less restrictive standards than Alaska. Some grant permits to people at age 18 and require no safety course.
Porter said when he reluctantly agreed to Alaska's initial concealed carry law, he was told the compromise was acceptable to the gun lobby.
"Since then, there has been amendment after amendment after amendment," Porter said. "This to me is the final step too far."
Alaska's law, passed in 1994, has been changed several times to loosen rules on where concealed guns can be carried and by whom, Smith said. Changes have included deleting a list of misdemeanor convictions that would make a person ineligible and removing a requirement that applicants disclose treatment for mental illness.
The original law recognized no permits from other states, but was later changed to recognize permits from states that recognized Alaska's or had standards at least as stringent as Alaska's, Smith said.
James said this year's proposed change makes it more likely that more states will recognize Alaska's permits. That is particularly important since Sept. 11 has raised worries about self-defense, she said.
"This greatly expands the amount of places Alaskans could go to visit and be able to protect themselves while they were there," James said.
James said few of the problems anticipated from concealed-carry laws have come to pass.
The bill passed the House 22-8, but only after Reps. Con Bunde, R-Anchorage, and Bill Williams, R-Ketchikan, changed their original no votes to yes. Twenty-one votes are required to pass a bill.
Voting against the bill were Reps. Ethan Berkowitz, D-Anchorage; Reggie Joule, D-Kotzebue; Beth Kerttula, D-Juneau; Bill Hudson, R-Juneau; Drew Scalzi, R-Homer; Jim Whitaker, R-Fairbanks; and Porter. Ten members were absent.
Berkowitz gave notice he may ask that the bill be reconsidered Monday. If the outcome does not change, the bill will go to Gov. Tony Knowles for consideration.
Knowles Press Secretary Bob King said the governor has serious concerns about the bill, but would not say whether he would veto it.
http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/929999p-1032924c.html
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878
Comments
Mudge the law abiding
I can't come to work today. The voices said, STAY HOME AND CLEAN THE GUNS!
Edited by - mudge on 04/14/2002 10:38:24
Margaret Thatcher
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Mark Twain
Boomer
Protect our Constitutional Rights.
hit it on the head WEshould be allowed to carry in any state
AlleninAlaska aglore@gci.net
How would you rather die, 10,000 foot pounds of muzzle energy in the BUTT or a sharp knife in the HEART?