The law already has the backing of more than half the members of the House.
One of the bill's sponsors, U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R., Fla.), said on his website the requirement for states to recognize one another's permits was similar to how "they recognize drivers' licenses and carry permits held by armored car guards."
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey has criticized the bill in congressional testimony, citing the problem of concealed-weapons permits from Florida being used in Philadelphia.
An Inquirer analysis of Florida state information showed a threefold increase in the number of Florida permits issued to Philadelphians in the last five years, with many of the permits going to areas plagued by heavy drug traffic.
Florida and Pennsylvania have different licensing requirements. Some people rejected for permits in Pennsylvania have gotten mail-order permits from Florida that can be used to carry concealed weapons here.
Ramsey has posted a public petition against the proposal on the White House's "We the People" website.
The site for the petition is: https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/preserve-our-states-rights-decide-who-can-carry-hidden-loaded-guns/Ll0QPXbV?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl
Contact staff writer Mark Fazlollah at 215-854-5831 or mfazlollah@phillynews.com.
