[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 176 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2091]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LUIS V. GUTIERREZ

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 17, 2011

  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, I would like the record to show that, due 
to an error, I voted ``aye'' on H.R. 822, the ``National Right-to-Carry 
Reciprocity Act,'' (rollcall vote No. 852) when I intended to vote 
``no.'' I would also like the record to show that I would have voted 
``aye'' on rollcall No. 849.
  Coming from Illinois, a state that does not issue permits to carry 
concealed weapons, I understand the importance of allowing each state 
and locality to determine what gun policy is most appropriate for them. 
From 1999-2006, 9,054 residents of Illinois were killed by gun 
violence. These numbers are jarring and, when faced with escalating gun 
violence in the city of Chicago, I simply cannot support efforts to 
erode and circumvent tough state gun laws.
  The ``National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act'' would preempt state 
laws by forcing states to accept permits to carry concealed weapons 
from other states regardless of any differences in safety standards or 
requirements to obtain the permit. In other words, Indiana, which 
prohibits individuals with certain dangerous criminal misdemeanor 
convictions from carrying concealed weapons, would be forced to allow 
permit holders from states without that requirement to carry concealed 
weapons within the state. In addition, it would be virtually impossible 
for a law enforcement officer to determine if an out-of-state permit 
was validly issued, creating more danger and uncertainty for our 
officers.
  I fear that, if this bill were enacted, it would put law enforcement 
officers and our communities at great risk while simultaneously eroding 
the authority of the states to dictate their own rules in the gun 
permitting process. I am deeply committed to ensuring that our 
communities are safe from the ravages of gun violence and I will 
ardently oppose any legislation to further erode strong state and local 
gun laws.