Issue resolution against CCR

One of the most dangerous bills currently scheduled in Congress is Concealed Carry Reciprocity (CCR), or HR 38. If passed, it would override our state’s gun violence prevention laws. It would force states to let violent offenders and people with no firearm safety training carry hidden, loaded handguns — even if those people could not otherwise legally purchase a gun in the state.

CCR would even force states to allow concealed carry by many people with no permit — allowing people who have never been screened by a background check to carry throughout the country. CCR would mean for our state nullifying all of our hard won gun safety laws and accepting the lowest laws of the land.

We do not want convicted felons, domestic abusers, animal abusers, and stalkers to be able to bring their guns into California from our neighboring states of Arizona and Nevada.

No surprise, Congressmen Darrell Issa and Duncan Hunter are co-sponsors of HR 38, having taken money from the NRA for years. Congresswoman Susan Davis is against HR 38, and an advocate for gun violence prevention. We are fortunate to reside in her district.

Now, more than ever, we must fight back against the powerful gun lobby and uphold our state’s rights to preventing gun violence. Recent research shows that, when states weaken law enforcement authority to deny permits to people who pose a danger, violent crime rates rise by 13-15 percent over what would have been expected without the change.

Los Angeles and San Francisco have already issued a resolution opposing CCR. I call upon our La Mesa City Council to take a stand and issue a resolution as well.

— Emily Green, La Mesa.