DEVELOPMENTS LEADING UP TO THE JUNE 23 HOUSE VOTE:
June 16, 2004
H.R. 218 PASSES COMMITTEE!
FULL VOTE EXPECTED NEXT WEEK
H.R. 218 was reported favorably (passed) today by the full House Judiciary Committee. The House Judiciary Committee voted by a 2 to 1 margin in favor of approval. The vote was not without debate, and several hostile amendments were defeated. LEAA had previously alerted Members of Congress to the bad amendments and conveyed our strongest opposition. That opposition was heard and the amendments failed yesterday and today.
The LEAA opposed and defeated amendments included:
- An amendment that would have given states four years to opt out of the bill
- An amendment that would have added language banning officers from carrying "concealed hand grenades and bombs" and "assault weapons". (The grenade and bomb exception can be dismissed as the crazy ramblings of someone with a deranged view of America's law enforcement officers, the "assault weapon" language could be construed as an effort to ban the so-called "high capacity" magazines found in most police issued side arms)
- An amendment that would have the BATFE involved in establishing standards to judge which law enforcement officers would qualify for "cop carry"
- An amendment that would sunset, or expire, the entire bill in 17 years
- An amendment that would allow police chiefs to exclude their officers from carrying off duty
- An amendment that would have created onerous training requirements; requirements that many believed would have virtually prevented ALL retirees from being authorized to carry
The bill passed without any of these hostile amendments, thanks to the hard work of H.R. 218 supporters on the House Judiciary Committee and particularly Congressmen Keller (R-FL), Feeney (R-FL) and Hostettler (R-IN), who spoke forcefully in support of the bill and against amendments designed to gut the legislation.
The bill now moves to the full floor of Congress for a vote next week. Be sure to contact your Member of Congress and tell them you are an LEAA member who wants them to vote yes on a clean version of H.R. 218.
June 15th, 2004
LEAA Applauds House Sub-Committee Passage of Cop Carry Bill
Full Judiciary Committee to hear H.R. 218 on Wed, June 16, 10am
Washington DC - LEAA Executive Director Jim Fotis praised the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security for their reporting of H.R. 218 - the "cop carry" bill. This life-saving legislation would allow qualified off duty and retired officers to carry their firearms nationwide, offering an added measure of safety for officers, their families and the general public - 24 hours a day, at no cost to the taxpayer.
LEAA's Fotis, himself a retired police officer, worked with Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) more than a decade ago to draft the very first "cop carry" legislation. Since then the bill has been LEAA's number one legislative priority and it has stood behind Congressman Cunningham in his unwavering support of rank and file officers.
H.R. 218 is the number one legislative priority of rank and file police officers on the street, and is also backed by nearly every national organization representing the men and women of America's law enforcement community. H.R. has overwhelming bipartisan backing, with 295 House cosponsors and 69 Senate cosponsors. The Senate version (S. 253) was reported out of the Judiciary Committee last year and awaits a vote before the full Senate.
LEAA's Fotis urged Congress to act quickly and deliver this bill for the President's signature before they go home to campaign for re-election. Said Fotis, "When Members of Congress return to their districts to campaign, and they ask for the support of law enforcement, those officers will ask what they've done about H.R 218 --- we hope they'll be able to say they made it law."
June 10, 2004
House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security
to hold hearing and mark-up on H.R. 218
Tuesday, June 15th, a House Judiciary sub-committee will hold a hearing and mark-up on H.R. 218. The "cop carry" legislation is cosponsored by more than two thirds of the House, including the sub-committee Chairman, Howard Coble (R-NC).
LEAA is asking the sub-committee members to oppose any attempts to weaken the bill, whether by removing retirees or allowing state level politicians to opt out. The hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 15th at 2pm and is scheduled to be webcast (click here for the link - scheduled webcasts do not always end up being broadcast.)
LEAA worked with Congressman Cunningham over a decade ago to introduce the very first cop carry bill, and have been steadfast supporters as the Congressman continued his unwavering efforts to support America's men and women in law enforcement by passing this bill.
Read LEAA's letter to Howard Coble, Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security! |