If we normalized CCW laws across all the states, you'd likely see Vermont and Alaska lose "permit free" CCW, and we'd probably end up with national "May Issue" CCW because New York, New Jersey, California and Illinois would have way too much say in the way the laws are written.
I disagree. I don't think that Vermont and Alaska would lose their ability to allow people within their borders to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.
Let's take the driver license analogy. Most states recognize three classes of driver license. Class A permits use of all vehicles, including articulated (AKA semis, or tractor-trailer). Class B permits commercial use of large, unarticulated, vehicles. Class C is for non-commercial use of small to medium sized vehicles. However, as a citizen of Iowa with a Class C license I am allowed to operate an articulated vehicle under certain restrictions. The primary restriction is I must remain within the borders of Iowa since no bordering state will permit me to operate that vehicle on their roads.
Let's assume for a moment that the many states agree on certain requirements for a concealed weapons permit. Let's assume those requirements are that one must be 21 years of age, must pass a NICS check, and must take a test on weapon safety. Assume Vermont offers such a permit that meets those requirements. Assume Vermont does not require that license to carry concealed weapons inside their borders.
Just like me driving a semi through Iowa that person in Vermont is free to carry a weapon as long as it is within the borders of the state. Once that person steps into New York, which for the sake of argument requires a license, then that person should have a concealed weapons permit from Vermont.
Just like how a driver license permits a lowest common denominator in what is allowed so would the proposed concealed carry permit. A state is free to choose to offer freedoms above what is allowed by that license but may not place any more restriction on a license other than what that license already has from the issuing authority.
Taking the driving analogy further let's assume there is a state that does not require a license to drive on public roads, we'll call that state "Bob". Since I have an Iowa driver license that is recognized by all states I am free to travel into and out of Bob as I wish, regardless of which states it borders. However, the citizens of Bob would be confined to drive within that state unless the Bobian government offered a license that was recognized by its neighbors. So, while many drivers within the state of Bob have a license not all do. If they wish to travel to another state they need to either get a Bobian driver license, or take the bus. I imagine many would choose to get a license. The Bobian government, because of the reciprocity clause, would be required to offer those licenses or find itself in trouble with the feds.
It seems to me that if there was some kind of standard set for the minimum requirements for a concealed weapon permit then it would likely force a state (or district
) to at least offer a license. It would be difficult to keep residents from getting a license if visitors are legally free to carry using the privileges granted by the license offered by their home government.
I don't think that requirements of reciprocity would lower the bar on licensing but raise it. What it could do is kill reciprocity on non-resident permits as a state is now compelled to offer a permit. Since all states are compelled to offer a license (may-issue or shall-issue) there is little legal or practical reason to offer a non-resident permit, or at least one that is recognized anywhere other than the issuing state.
What do you think would happen if a person that lived in (for argument's sake) shall issue states like Maryland or Virginia could legally carry within DC after getting a license from their home state? Do you think that the residents of DC would be in any way pleased that their own rights continued to be restricted? It is quite possible that DC would remain with a no-issue policy but I don't think it would last very long.
What I do think is that a universal reciprocity on concealed weapon permits will be difficult to do as long as such reciprocity is forced upon a state. It would be voted down in Congress or legally challenged in the courts. I would much rather see the individual states come to an agreement on their own than have it forced upon them by the federal government. Things would go much more peacefully that way.