Senate rejects amendment to allow for National Concealed Carry Reciprocity

By a vote of 58-39 the Senate fell two votes short of approving the amendment to allow for national reciprocity.

The same old tired arguments about blood in the streets and - gasp - untrained permit holders daring to carry in restrictive states were propounded as reasons for voting against the amendment.

A new interesting argument against having such reciprocity, one that is almost laughable given the proponents of it -- States Rights.

Other opponents said the proposal infringed on states' rights, usually an important principle for gun rights groups. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said it would override the laws of 11 states — California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island — and the District of Columbia — which do not allow carry permit reciprocity with other states.

Has Durbin et al ever raised States Rights in order to oppose federal gun control affecting all the states that they have pushed for? I thought not.

As soon as I can find out, I will list the Senators who voted against. I suspect both Michigan senators did so -- which is of course riddiculous as Michigan as a state has by law a policy granting reciprocity to all permits from every State, so in failing to support the amendment these Senators would have acted completely contrary to the interests of their constituents in Michigan.

Update: From the US Senate Website, here is the list of senators who voted against the amendment:

NAYs ---39
Akaka (D-HI), Bingaman (D-NM) , Boxer (D-CA), Brown (D-OH), Burris (D-IL), Cantwell (D-WA), Cardin (D-MD), Carper (D-DE), Dodd (D-CT), Durbin (D-IL), Feinstein (D-CA), Franken (D-MN), Gillibrand (D-NY), Harkin (D-IA), Inouye (D-HI), Kaufman (D-DE), Kerry (D-MA), Klobuchar (D-MN), Kohl (D-WI), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Leahy (D-VT),Levin (D-MI), Lieberman (ID-CT), Lugar (R-IN), McCaskill (D-MO), Menendez (D-NJ), Merkley (D-OR), Murray (D-WA), Nelson (D-FL), Reed (D-RI), Rockefeller (D-WV), Sanders (I-VT), Schumer (D-NY), Shaheen (D-NH), Specter (D-PA), Stabenow (D-MI), Voinovich (R-OH), Whitehouse (D-RI), Wyden (D-OR)

As suspected, both Stabenow and Levin voted against enhancing their consituents' civil rights. Also a nice job on the part of Senators Lugar (R-IN) and Voinovich (R-OH) for casuing the bill to fail. Had you two Republican turncoats voted for it, the amendment would have passed. Thanks so much.