A controversial amendment to the Senate defense planning bill that would allow people to carry concealed weapons across state lines has set off a firestorm on both sides of the gun control debate.
Democrats were scrambling to defeat the proposal by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., ahead of a Wednesday vote on the measure. Thune argues the amendment, which has 21 Senate co-sponsors, will help reduce crime.
"My legislation enables citizens to protect themselves while respecting individual state firearms laws," Thune said in a written statement last week after he offered the legislation.
Opponents say the legislation would allow people to carry concealed weapons into states where they would otherwise be ineligible to do so.
"This amendment is another attempt by the gun lobby to put its radical agenda ahead of safety and security in our communities," Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., said in a written statement.
"If you walk down the street in New York ... you can have the solace of knowing that if someone has a gun on them they've gone through a rigorous police background check. After this bill, you can have no such comfort," Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday.
Currently, 48 states allow concealed weapons. Thune's amendment would not allow people to carry concealed weapons into the two states -- Wisconsin and Illinois -- that do not permit them. - FOX News Story
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