04/13/2009 01:00 PM House JUDICIARY

SJR 10 - ADOPT S. 371 IN CONGRESS                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:12:35 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR RAMRAS announced that the  first order of business would be                                                               
SENATE  JOINT  RESOLUTION  NO.   10,  Urging  the  United  States                                                               
Congress  to  adopt S.  371,  the  Respecting States  Rights  and                                                               
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2009.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
1:12:44 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR JOE THOMAS, Alaska  State Legislature, sponsor, explained                                                               
that  SJR  10 urges  passage  of  the federal  Respecting  States                                                               
Rights and  Concealed Carry Reciprocity  Act of  2009 - S.  371 -                                                               
which  would establish  a  nationwide  reciprocity agreement  for                                                               
carrying concealed  firearms.  Such nationwide  reciprocity would                                                               
allow a citizen who is permitted  to carry a concealed firearm in                                                               
his/her own  state to do  so in  other states with  similar laws,                                                               
though the  person must  follow the  laws of  the state  in which                                                               
he/she is  traveling, including laws restricting  the carrying of                                                               
firearms in certain locations; furthermore,  under S. 371, anyone                                                               
who is  prohibited by federal  law from carrying a  firearm would                                                               
continue  to  be so  prohibited.    Many states  currently  offer                                                               
reciprocity agreements with other  states that have similar laws,                                                               
but such agreements can change  or lapse, making it difficult for                                                               
the bearer of  a concealed firearm to keep track  of which states                                                               
offer  reciprocity.   Passage of  the  federal legislation  would                                                               
ensure that Alaskans could enjoy  the same rights as residents in                                                               
other states with  concealed carry laws.   In conclusion, Senator                                                               
Thomas urged  support of  SJR 10  and Alaskans'  Second Amendment                                                               
right.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
1:14:59 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
JOSEPH  HARDENBROOK,  Staff,  Senator Joe  Thomas,  Alaska  State                                                               
Legislature,  on behalf  of the  sponsor,  Senator Thomas,  added                                                               
that  the House  Judiciary Standing  Committee is  SJR 10's  sole                                                               
committee of referral in the House.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
1:15:23 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved to report  SJR 10 out of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no objection,  SJR 10 was reported  from the                                                               
House Judiciary Standing Committee.