Sunday, January 02, 2022

Prospects for Constitutional Carry in 2022



 At the start of 2021 there were 16 members of the Constituional Carry club in the United States of America. They were: 

  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Idaho
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Maine
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • New Hampshire
  • North Dakota
  • Oklahoma
  • South Dakota
  • Vermont
  • West Virginia
  • Wyoming

2021 was a record year for Constitutional Carry. In 2021, five states joined the Constitutional Carry club, increasing membership from 16 to 21. The last and largest state to join the club was Texas. The four other states to join the club in 2021 were Tennessee, Iowa, Montana, and Utah.

Several other states are working to pass Constitutional Carry bills. Here are states and possibilities for Constitutional Carry in 2022.

 The first in line, with bills which have passed both the House and the Senate, is Ohio. The bills in Ohio have differences, which need to be worked out. Ohio governor Mike DeWine has been silent on Constitutional Carry. He may or may not sign a bill if one is sent to him. If he vetoes a bill, there may be enough votes in the Ohio legislature to override the veto. We should have more information on what is happening in Ohio by the end of January, 2022.

Pennsylvania passed a Constitutional Carry bill through the legislature and sent it to Democrat Governor Tom Wolf. Governor Wolf vetoed the bill. Wolf is up for election in the mid-term elections in 2022. If a Republican is elected to governor in 2022, Constitutional Carry could pass in 2023. Expect Constitutional carry to be an issue in the Governor's race.

Indiana passed a version of Constitutional Carry in the House by 64 to 31 in 2021. The Senate Republican leadership killed the bill in the Senate Judiciary committee. Indiana appears to have sufficient votes to pass the bill, if the Republican leadership sees the wisdom of getting behind it. Indiana is a strong contender for passing Constitutional Carry in 2022.

Alabama has a very good chance of passing Constitutional Carry in 2022. There have been several attempts to pass Constitutional Carry in recent years.  Alabama has the highest level of concealed carry permits of any state. 32% of adults in Alabama have concealed carry permits.  In Alabama, the Sheriff's Association is the major stumbling block to Constitutional Carry. Sheriff's in Alabama collect the fees for Concealed Carry permits, and have a strong financial incentive to oppose Constitutional or permitless carry.  Alabama has a good chance of passing Constitutional Carry in 2021. 

Louisiana passed a Constitutional Carry bill in 2021, and sent it to Governor John Bel Edwards, who vetoed the bill. The bill passed both the House and Senate with veto proof majorities. It appears Governor Edwards was able to offer enough favors to change votes and sustain his veto.  Efforts to pass Constitutional Carry continue in Louisiana, but Governor Edwards is not up for re-election, he is term limited.  Louisiana has a "jungle" primary, where all candidates are listed, and anyone can vote for any candidate. Governor Edwards will be gone in 2023.

Florida has long struggled to pass open carry for the state. However, in 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis briefly indicated support for a Constitutional Carry bill. A bill will be introduced by Representative Anthoni Sabatini. There is significant support for it in the Florida legislature. However, there are Republicans who have not been supportive. House Speaker Chris Sprowls could be a problem. Senate Majority leader Debbie Mayfield has said she would support the legislation. 

Nebraska has a strong advocate for Constitutional Carry in Senator Tom Brewer. He will be introducing a bill. Governor Pete Ricketts has said he would sign a Constituional Carry bill. Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature. It only has one house. Members of the Nebraska legislature leadership do not seem to but a high priority on Second Amendment rights. Senator Brewer claims he has the votes to pass the bill. He may not have the influence to bring the bill up for a vote. 

Wisconsin will likely be voting on a Constitutional Carry bill. If they do so, it has a good chance of passage. Democrat governor Evers is almost certain to veto it.  Governor Evers, if he chooses to run, will be up for re-election in 2022. 

Georgia has had several attempts to pass Constitutional Carry, with little success. The race for governor in 2022 has changed that dynamic. Two Republican candidates are now championing Constitutional Carry in their campaigns. Governor Brian Kemp and candidate David Purdue say they are in favor of Constitutional Carry legislation. 

 South Carolina has strong supporters for Constitutional Carry. Now that permitted open carry has passed, expect action on passing Constitutional Carry in 2022.

While the nation is more than 10 months from the mid-term elections in 2022, early indicators favor Republicans. Ten months is a very long time in politics.  If Republicans are able to prevent the Democrats from rigging all future national elections in their favor with passage of the Democrat election bill this session, they have a serious possibility of upsetting Leftist political power.  That would translate into stronger majorities in Republican legislatures.

If that happens, this correspondent expects 2 - 4 more states to join the Constitutional Carry club in 2022. Ohio, Indiana, and Alabama are the most likely at this time.

Constitutional Carry sends a strong signal to Supreme Court justices who are expected to be ruling on the NYR&PA case (carry outside the home) by the end of June in 2022. 

 ©2021 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch





7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The effect of the USSC ruling will change the laws Nationally in all states and that will have a great impact on the number of governors that veto. lets hope the USSC does not have to face some impeachments because we know who they will be if they cant remember their oath of office. "long standing rule of law " "if it is not written it can not be construed to exist" there is no requirement written that requires a permit to exercise any of the rights guaranteed by the Bill of rights. frankly that nullifies all states permit laws now.

Anonymous said...

There is a USSC ruling that states All guaranteed rights in the bill of rights cross all state lines. as U.S. citizens your rights travel with us where ever we are in this country when most people travel they leave their home to get to where they are going. that proves if you have the right to carry it has to be legal to carry where ever you are. the second amendment states we have the right to keep and bare you cant keep and bare if not allows to take your weapons with you self defense can be required at any time any where. I do not need any one's permission to defend my self. and I surely do not need to buy a permit to do it. my right to privacy dose not require me to publish to the government what my weapons serial numbers are so that information can be hacked and make me a target for theft or collection should we be invaded by our enemies. registration of weapons makes us vulnerable to target if we are ever invaded. Japan would not invade the U.S. because they believed there would be a weapon behind every blade of grass no reason to mark those blades of grass to tell them where the weapons are.

Anonymous said...

"Constitutional Carry" states Wyoming, North Dakota, Maine, New Hampshire, and West Virginia may be for residents only. The link below says these states do not recognize a New York Conceal Carry Permit.

https://www.usacarry.com/concealed-carry-permit-reciprocity-maps/

Unknown said...

Real quick correction....Gov Wolf isn't up for reelection. PA governors are term limited.

Anonymous said...

One other constitutional point. No individual state has the authority to amend the Federal constitution OR the amendments. any state law that ads infringements to federally guaranteed rights is not valid law. When the USSC rules all rights cross state lines that terminates reciprocity laws. because that is national a origin violation of the 1964 civil rights ruling. This state does not like that state, too damn bad we all belong to the union. Supreme court rulings are biding on all states. in effect once the supreme court make a ruling all states must comply. filing all of these various law suits jus puts the lawyers kids through college. understand the structure and force of effect in supreme court rulings. The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of this land and all state constitutions and all state laws must comply. unconstitutional state laws are unenforceable. an arrest for violating an unconstitutional state laws is false arrest. you can sue the state and the local agency for violating your constitutional rights. we have five decades of citizens that were not required to take a civics course in high school to graduate. no wonder there are so many constitutionally illiterates in office.

Anonymous said...

Personally I would like to see that it be required for all elected officials to pass the final exam for a civics course before they can be sworn in. if you do not know what the constitution days how can you take a valid oath of office to uphold and support it?

Anonymous said...

Up and until about 1970 you were required to pass a high school civics course (study of the U.S. Constitution) to graduate high school, then it was made an elective. so there are at least 52 years of citizens that have never been required to study the supreme law of this land.