Federal government should defend gun rights Re: “Concealed carry should be state decision,” From Readers, Nov. 22

As an avid defender of states’ rights myself, I appreciate Jeff Underwood’s reasoning for opposing a federal law requiring all states to recognize the concealed carry permits of others; however, he is wrong on this issue. While the Tenth Amendment solidly affirms states’ rights, it does not grant them the power to infringe upon those outlined in the previous nine, including the Second. The right to self defense is a human right, and whether somebody needs to carry a concealed firearm to exercise that right is for that individual to decide for himself or herself. A federal law requiring states to recognize concealed carry permits should exist.