John Thune Sees The Whites Of Their Eyes.

John Thune doesn't believe in evolution and gay marriage creeps him out. But if you are a drunk, a repeat violent criminal or a sex offender, it's cool with him if you carry a concealed firearm.

The South Dakota GOP senator is sponsoring an amendment--along with Louisiana Republican senator and D.C. Madame client David Vitter--that would make it much easier to publicly pack heat.

As former Virginia Republican representative Tom Davis wrote on Politico, "Today Congress is slated to vote on a bill that would effectively nationalize permits for those who wish to carry concealed guns. However, those of us who support conceal and carry laws must be concerned that Congress would force states to take the least restrictive and weakest current state laws as the standard. As conservatives we usually oppose nationalizing what is best left to the states...

Both philosophically and practically speaking, this is bad public policy. It is a federal power grab that would gut state laws and put innocent lives at risk, including the lives of police officers...

But if the Thune Amendment passes, that criminal will have absolutely no problem acquiring a concealed carry permit that would allow him to avoid arrest and continue selling guns illegally on the streets; guns that could be used in robberies, assaults, and murders. In all likelihood, that criminal will not even have to travel out-of-state to get the permit. A black market for the permit will spring up, sure as day follows night."

The National Rifle Association begs to differ with Davis, claiming in a letter to members, "(t)he Thune-Vitter amendment recognizes that competent, responsible, law-abiding Americans still deserve our trust and confidence when they cross state lines. Passing interstate right-to-carry legislation will help further reduce violent crime by deterring criminals, and-most important of all-will protect the right of honest Americans to protect themselves when deterrence fails.

The Thune-Vitter amendment represents a giant step forward in the protection of our basic right to self-defense. Its passage will recognize that the rights of law-abiding right to carry permit holders should be respected, even when they travel outside their home state."

The New York Times points out, "Introduced as an amendment to the military’s budget bill by Senator John Thune, a Republican of South Dakota, this radical measure would nullify the laws of almost every state, subjecting police officers to greater risk and increasing the potential for gun violence...Passage of the amendment would make it much harder for law enforcement to distinguish between legal and illegal possession of a firearm. It would be a boon for illegal gun traffickers, making it easier to transport weapons across state lines without being caught.

Proponents of Senator Thune’s attempt to create the equivalent of a national concealed carry system claim it would reduce crime. But the evidence shows otherwise. Between May 2007 and April 2009, people holding concealed handgun permits killed at least seven police officers and 44 private citizens, according to a new study by the Violence Policy Center, a gun control advocacy organization. Other examples of crimes committed by concealed-carry licensees are plentiful.

This horrible piece of legislation comes up for a vote today. Hopefully the Senate has the good sense to shoot it dead.

UPDATE: Bang, bang. This ridiculous amendment is dead...