Response from the States Attorney General of Washington on reciprocity

[fsmith3]

Recently, I contacted the Florida States Attorney General regarding reciprocity and how dropping the legal concealed carry age to 18 would affect status with other states across the country. Simply put, here in Florida a decision was made to allow active duty military and veterans under the age of 21 (w/ honorable discharge) the right to apply for and receive a permit and rightfully so in my opinion. Good for veterans here in Florida however as a result, some states are no longer allowing reciprocity because of the change as its doesn't meet there laws for 21 y/o carry.

Attached is the response I received from the Washington States Attorney General. While I'm not an expert, my thoughts are that here in Southeast I don't see the regional states doing the same. I also like the fact that our attorney general "turfed this one off" to someone else. Any thoughts?


May 22, 2013

Greetings:

Thank you for your message to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. As the Constituent Correspondence Liaison for the agency, I’ve been asked to respond.

Washington’s law recognizing concealed pistol/handgun licenses from other states is clear, unambiguous and confers no discretion on the Attorney General to ignore or waive any of its requirements. The Attorney General’s job is to enforce and defend Washington state law.

In order for Washington to recognize other states’ concealed weapons permits, Washington state law (RCW 9.41.073) dictates that the other state must:

• Recognize Washington concealed pistol licenses;

• Not issue concealed pistol licenses to persons under age 21; AND

• Require a mandatory fingerprint-based background check for criminal and mental health history.

Florida amended its law in 2012 to eliminate the minimum age requirement of 21 for active service members or veterans who were honorably discharged. As a result, Florida joined the 39 other states who are not eligible for reciprocity in Washington due to Washington state law.

Concerned citizens should voice their opinions to Washington state lawmakers at 1-800-562-6000.

Kindly,

A.D. BAKER

Constituent Correspondence Liaison

 

[JCliff]

I'll go out on a limb a little here because I am not intimately familiar with the state of Washington's politics, nor am I an expert on its laws. The state AG is the chief law enforcement officer in the state. He has sworn to uphold the laws of the state. It appears that he is absolutely correct in what the state of Washington law stipulates with respect to recognizing permits from other states. The appropriate venue to address that is through the state legislature, by having the law amended to allow the type of exception that Florida has made. He is entirely correct when he suggests that you need to take it up with your state representative.

 

[sdprof]

Or WA could amend its law to allow reciprocity, except for permit holders under age 21.

Aren't there a few states whose laws are set up that way? (I'm feeling to tired to check at the momemt.)

 

[AndeyHall]

It is my firm belief that all active duty military and veterans should not have to apply for a concealed weapons permit and should be allowed to carry in all 50 states and in every single place police officers can.

 

[sdprof]

It is my firm belief that all active duty military and veterans should not have to apply for a concealed weapons permit and should be allowed to carry in all 50 states and in every single place police officers can.

While I respect the respect you're showing to the military, bear in mind that not all military personnel receive any training beyond familiarization training at basic training. Particularly in the Navy and Air Force, not everyone is a gun-toter. Further, unless one is Military Police, Security Police, Shore Patrol (they still call it that?) there's no training on civil law and use of force.

My case in point - M-16 at basic training, touched it once, maybe twice again before overseas assignments. .38 revolver - twice qualified with it, then twice later with the M-9. All that in 24 year span. Only at my first .38 training was any use of force training included, and that was very military specific - when can I shoot a bad guy trying to steal secrets or sabotage airplanes. Does all that really prepare me to carry concealed in the everyday world?

I am all for active duty and vets being able to apply for and be issued a permit, no minimum age specified. Heck, everyone 18 or over should be able to carry.

 

[jcreek]

This is exactly what I've said since the first time this issue came up. The AG has zero say in the matter. I for the most part agree with letting vets under 21 carry, I know I wanted to when I joined at 18, but the issue needs to be taken up with Congress not the AG.

 

[dcselby1]

Or WA could amend its law to allow reciprocity, except for permit holders under age 21.

Aren't there a few states whose laws are set up that way? (I'm feeling to tired to check at the momemt.)

I'm not sure about he 18 year old carry thing. Michigan lowered it's drinking age from 21 to 18 years ago and it only lasted a couple of years. Ironically I could never take advantage of it because I was carrying a gun in Vietnam! They returned it to 21 because it was a disaster from what I heard.

 

[wolf_fire]

It is my firm belief that all active duty military and veterans should not have to apply for a concealed weapons permit and should be allowed to carry in all 50 states and in every single place police officers can.

So, basically in accordance with the 2nd Amendment, like all citizens should have?