On July 16, the U.S. Senate narrowly defeated the latest attempt to institute national handgun-carry permit reciprocity, requiring states issuing such permits to honor those from all other states. Illinois and Wisconsin are the only two states still prohibiting law-abiding residents from carrying handguns legally. For the time being, permit holders must continue to know and abide by the confusing array of state laws regarding recognition and reciprocity.

Most states that grant handgun-carry permits have reciprocity or recognition provisions for permit holders in some other states. However, such provisions vary dramatically.

For example, Indiana and Pennsylvania recognize all other states’ carry permits. Ohio, however, recognizes neither Indiana nor Pennsylvania carry permits, and it is a felony for residents of Indiana and Pennsylvania to carry handguns in Ohio.

Currently, the only way for an Indiana resident to carry a handgun legally in Ohio is to obtain an out-of-state carry permit from another state recognized by Ohio. Florida and Utah are the only two states granting out-of-state permits recognized by Ohio.

Indiana’s handgun-carry licenses are not recognized by many states because Indiana has no required training, does not require a photo on the license and does not do a federal background check.

The number of states recognizing Indiana’s permits would increase greatly by adding these requirements. But requiring training would increase the cost substantially and could make the license unaffordable to many.

The solution is to follow the lead of North Dakota, which recently passed legislation creating a new category of handgun-carry license requiring training, photo and federal background check. This new law does not eliminate the existing North Dakota carry permit; rather, it simply adds another license category for residents seeking improved recognition and reciprocity with other states.

My suggestion is to do the same thing North Dakota has done: create another class of handgun-carry license with training, photo and federal background check requirements that will satisfy Ohio and other states that reject the Indiana permit.

For those not concerned with carrying in Ohio or certain other states, the current license will suffice. For those who wish to be able to possess a firearm legally in Ohio and other states, such a new class of permit would solve many problems.

It is exceedingly important for anyone licensed to carry a handgun to know the laws, not just of his home state, but all other states in which he or she might carry a firearm.

The only authoritative sources of those laws are the states’ attorneys general offices. However, the following Web site is an excellent place to start and has links to all states and their laws: www.handgunlaw.us/updates.htm.