Resolution Opposing Concealed Carry Reciprocity (HR38/S446)
WHEREAS, on January 3, 2017, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced HR 38 and on February 27, 2017, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced S 446, both known as the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017; and
WHEREAS, while every state allows concealed carry of firearms under some circumstances, each state has different requirements on who is permitted to carry, what requirements are appropriate, and what type of training should be required of permit holders; and
WHEREAS, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 would allow people with concealed carry permits in one state to take their weapon to any other state, even if the other state has stricter limits on concealed carry weapons than the home state in which they obtained their permit; and
WHEREAS, Illinois has the 8th strictest gun control regulations in the country, and Illinois has the 12th lowest firearm mortality in the country, this legislation would weaken the regulations we value by allowing gun owners from states with significantly less-stringent regulations to carry weapons in our state; and
WHEREAS, these Concealed Carry Reciprocity bills would override existing state laws and local practice and severely limit Chicago's ability to prevent criminal firearm trafficking, criminal possession of weapons, and the general proliferation of firearms in public places; and
WHEREAS, studies show that carrying weapons for self-defense increases the risk of death or injury to the carrier, that the adoption of right-to-carry laws is correlated with an increase in violent crime, and that the evidence suggests there is no public health benefit to further proliferation of armed citizens in public; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Chicago City Council go on record opposing H.R.38 and S.446, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, and calls on its representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to vote against^these bills, and to work with their colleagues to oppose these bills; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this order to all Chicago representatives in Congress.