Vote for less crime
To the Editor:

The "Full Faith and Credit" clause of the US Constitution requires every state to recognize and honor the "public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State," and that's why a marriage license, driver's license, etc., fromGeorgia is honored by all the other states, and vice versa. In view of this, it has never made any sense to me that a Carrying a Concealed Weapon license (CCW) is not treated the same. Citizens who have a Georgia CCW know that their CCW is not recognized by neighboring South Carolina, and if they are caught carrying a concealed firearm in South Carolina, they are subject to arrest, and if convicted, may be fined and or imprisoned. On the other hand, Georgia does have "CCW Reciprocity" with 21 other states, which allows Georgia CCW holders to carry concealed in those states, in exchange for Georgia allowing CCW holders from those states to carry concealed in Georgia. Thanks to legislation currently being entertained by the US Congress, all that could soon change for the better. Both the Senate (S 388) and the House (HR 226) are considering national "Right-to-Carry" reciprocity bills that would provide national reciprocity for state CCW licenses. These bills would not create a federal licensing system; they would simply require the states to recognize each other's CCWs, just as they recognize drivers' licenses. Seems to me this legislation is long overdue, and I have written to my legislators asking them to support it. I respectfully suggest that you consider doing the same. The research is done, the results are in, and the conclusion is clear. As Professor John R. Lott, Jr. succinctly put it: "more guns = less violent crime." And, as Robert A. Heinlein opined, "An armed society is a polite society." I think we would all welcome less violent crime and more courtesy.

Cordially, Chuck Esposito

Suches, Ga.,