[W]ASHINGTON — The House advanced a package of changes to federal firearms laws Wednesday that includes a controversial measure easing restrictions on carrying concealed guns across state lines.
Meanwhile, a Senate committee took testimony on two bills that have some support across party lines: One would strengthen the national background check system; the other would crack down on devices that increase the firing rate of semi-automatic weapons.
The House passed the firearms legislation package 231-198.
Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., voted against the bill.
He said that although he supports a section meant to improve the system for background checks on prospective gun buyers, he could not vote in favor of the concealed carry proposal.
The legislation would allow people who can lawfully carry a concealed gun in their home state to do so in other states as well.
States would be required to recognize concealed carry permits issued by other jurisdictions, like driver’s licenses. Residents of states like Vermont, which does not require a permit for carrying concealed weapons, could legally carry guns in other states with proof of residency.
Critics of the bill, including Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo, say the measure would “hold hostage” public safety in areas with stricter gun control laws.
While Vermont has “pretty permissive” gun laws, Welch said, he does not believe that those laws should be imposed on other states. The concealed carry measure would allow people to carry guns into areas with stricter laws, like New York City, he said.
“The one-size-fits-all approach here is wrong,” Welch said.
Supporters of the measure argued on the floor that it protects Second Amendment rights and allows people who are authorized to carry concealed weapons in one state to protect themselves when they travel across state lines.
The measure is one of the National Rifle Association’s top legislative priorities.
“I think that essentially the NRA’s in control here,” Welch said.
Welch said it’s “extremely disappointing” that House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., advanced the two measures together, rather than allowing members to vote on each separately. Welch supports legislation to improve the background check system.
“We should have an opportunity to vote on that as a separate and freestanding bill,” he said.
Such attempts have had support from both sides of the aisle in the wake of a November shooting at a church in Texas that left 26 dead.
The shooter, Devin Patrick Kelley, had been dishonorably discharged from the Air Force and had a record related to domestic abuse that should have restricted him from purchasing firearms. However, the Air Force has acknowledged it failed to notify civilian authorities of his conviction, meaning it didn’t show up in databases.
Efforts to improve the federal background check system were under discussion at a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday morning.
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told the committee that the Air Force is implementing changes in the disciplinary system to ensure that records in criminal proceedings are transferred to the FBI database.
A review of the database is underway, and there will be annual audits to ensure compliance, she said.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who introduced a bill to strengthen the background check system after the shooting, said at the hearing that the system is very complex.
“It seems to me there is no clearer cause and effect between tragedy and potential prevention of that tragedy than improving the background check system,” Cornyn said.
While the hearing found Republicans and Democrats in a rare moment of unity in discussing gun laws, there were still clear contrasts between those on opposite sides of the aisle.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said that although he found the hearing important, it did not fully address the issues with firearms.
“No matter how tough our laws are, it’s easy to evade them,” Leahy said, adding that it’s possible to buy a gun without a background check, such as online or at a gun show. Under federal law, sellers who aren’t licensed dealers don’t have to conduct the checks.
“There’s no background check,” Leahy said. “We can talk about tightening up our background check. It won’t make any difference.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, recalled that when he was visiting families in the hospital after the church shooting, people told him that stricter gun laws are not the solution.
“The answer I believe is not in restricting law-abiding citizens,” Cruz said, referring to the man who pursued the shooter in the church. “The answer instead is stopping criminals and madmen from getting guns. And the thing that is infuriating is this shooter, it was illegal for this shooter to have a firearm.”
