One week after the Las Vegas shooting that prompted some to ask for stricter gun control, Sen. Chuck Schumer lambasted the NRA for supporting a law that would actually expand gun rights.
The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, a bill that has been pending in Congress and was introduced in January, would let people who are allowed to carry concealed handguns to bring those firearms into another state that also allows concealed carry, no questions asked or new permit needed.
Senate Minority Leader Schumer warned that the law would make New Yorkers less safe.
“Many states out west and in the South with lax gun laws let just about anyone carry a gun concealed. Under this law, if Wyoming or Alabama said any person could carry a concealed gun, they could come to Times Square; Penn Station carrying that gun – concealed,” Schumer said, according to CBS. “No one would know about it.”
“Can you imagine if somebody who had the same kind of mental illness as the horrible shooter in Las Vegas was allowed to come to New York and carry guns concealed on his person?” he continued.
New York state allows concealed carry on a “may issue” basis, meaning the decision whether or not to grant the permit is up to the licensing officer, but it’s difficult for the average citizen to get such a permit, experts say.
Schumer said that New York police should determine who in New York needs a gun, not officials from other states.
The NRA backed the bill when it was first introduced in January and reiterated support for it on Oct. 5 in a statement concerning bump stocks, the modification devices used by the Las Vegas shooter that allow guns to fire like fully automatic weapons.
In the same comment saying that bump stocks should be subject to additional regulations following the deadly shooting, the NRA said that “on behalf of our five million members across the country, we urge Congress to pass National Right-to-Carry reciprocity, which will allow law-abiding Americans to defend themselves and their families from acts of violence.”
The NYPD and other law enforcement have also come out against the bill.
