Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act 'supported, I'm sure, by ISIS,' NY district attorney says

A New York district attorney said the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act — which would allow concealed carry permit holders to carry guns in any state that allows concealed carry — is supported by the Islamic State.

"This bill is supported, I'm sure, by ISIS," New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance said on WNYM-AM Sunday. "ISIS points its readers to America and how they can easily obtain guns by going to states where there are no permitting requirements."

Versions of the bill were introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives earlier this year, and Vance said he doesn't want lawmakers to "play into the hands of these terrorists."

Vance noted an online Islamic State magazine that he said declared how easy it is to buy guns in some American states — which translates to a "good thing for their jihadists."

"So ISIS is paying close attention to this bill as well," Vance said on the radio show, adding that if the bill became law, it would be particularly risky for New York where gun laws are more restrictive.

"It would be completely legal for a person to bring a loaded gun or guns in New York as long as it was legal to possess them in the person's home state," Vance said, adding that "a guy from Idaho, where there's no permitting requirement whatsoever, could carry his gun into New York City loaded, into Times Square."

Vance said that Everytown for Gun Safety, the brainchild of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, estimated that as many as "2 million more loaded guns" would come into the city if the law passed.

"Does anyone really think the gun laws in West Virginia should be the same laws that apply in Washington Heights, Manhattan?" Vance wondered on the show. "Can you imagine how incensed Idaho would be if they had to abide by New York gun laws?"

One can get a concealed carry license in New York state — and even in New York City — but only such permit holders can carry. If you're permitted to carry concealed in another state, you're out of luck if you try it in the Empire State.

Incidentally, U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) — who introduced the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act to the House in January — blasted Vance's statements Tuesday in an op-ed in The Hill:

With all due respect, the district attorney needs to educate himself on H.R. 38 before making such disparaging and false statements. He outrageously accused the 200 co-sponsors of this bill — both Democrats and Republicans — of “playing into the hand” of ISIS and other terrorists, attempting to support his point by saying terrorists can “easily obtain guns” in some states. The chief law enforcement officer should be above dishonesty and scare tactics, but I guess desperate times call for desperate lies.

Hudson said that all gun buyers would still need to go through federal background checks and that "local laws would still dictate where law-abiding citizens can and can’t carry a concealed firearm" under the bill he introduced.

(H/T: The Hill)