ONE OF NAPO’S TOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 106^th CONGRESS

H.R. 218’s approval at the Subcommittee level is particularly good news, following NAPO’s recent announcement that similar "Right to Carry" legislation did not pass the U.S. House of Representatives. On June 18, 1999, H.R. 218 was offered as an amendment by Congressmen James Rogan (R-CA), Randy Cunningham (R-CA), George Gekas (R-PA) and James Traficant (D-OH) to H.R. 2122, the "Mandatory Gun Show Background Check Act of 1999." The amendment passed overwhelmingly on the House floor on a vote of 372-53, but then was ultimately defeated when the larger bill, H.R. 2122, failed on a vote of 280-147.

In the 105^th Congress, H.R. 218 died when an amendment was added that would have created a ‘National Right to Carry Standard’ for all citizens. Such an expansion turned a mostly bipartisan law enforcement bill into a partisan and contentious piece of legislation.

"Today, H.R. 218 was passed by the Subcommittee in its original form, as a ‘Right to Carry’ bill for only qualified active and retired law enforcement officers and not for all citizens," said Robert T. Scully, NAPO’s executive director. "Without any harmful amendments being attached, as occurred in the 105^th Congress, H.R. 218 stands a strong chance of passage by the full House of Representatives," continued Scully.

"On behalf of the 220,000 sworn law enforcement officers represented by NAPO, I’d like to thank the House Subcommittee on Crime for looking out for the rights and safety of America’s law enforcement officers," said Scully. "I would especially like to thank Randy Cunningham (R-CA) for introducing H.R. 218 and Chairman Bill McCollum (R-FL) for moving this legislation out of his subcommittee favorably to fix this crazy patchwork of inconsistent laws across the United States. Many of these laws make it unlawful for law enforcement officers to carry weapons across state lines when off duty," said Robert T. Scully, NAPO’s executive director.

"H.R. 218, if passed into law, will be beneficial to the general welfare of both the public and the law enforcement community. ‘Right to Carry’ legislation will help to protect law enforcement officers and their families who may be marked targets by criminals. There will also be an additional protection to our streets and communities, as trained law enforcement officers travel outside of their jurisdictions," continued Scully.

NAPO will continue lobbying and working with other law enforcement groups as the bill goes to the full House Judiciary Committee and will seek similar legislation in the Senate.

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