On the recordNovember 15, 2011
I continue to reserve the balance of my time. Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. McCarthy). Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. I thank the gentleman. Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the rule for H.R. 822. As you know, this committee voted down a motion to consider the bill under an open rule. This is such an important issue that we really need to have the entire Nation hear about it and have all of us have our voices heard. I want to make sure that I get to speak on an amendment of mine that is going to be considered. Under my amendment, States would be required to proactively opt-in to the agreements called for by H.R. 822. This would restore the critical decision of who should be able to carry a concealed handgun in our communities back to where it belongs--to the local governments that have to deal with the policing and other consequences such as this provision will do. We also will hear about other amendments that would restore rights back to States and safety back to our communities and some sanity back into this debate. Madam Speaker, I think it's extremely important that we look at this as a States' rights issue. My State has concealed weapons laws. We allow people to have concealed weapons. But there are other States that do not come up to our standard, and we don't want them coming into our State and telling us what to do.…
