President Donald Trump has declared his support for a Republican led House bill that seeks to establish nationwide concealed carry rights.
The legislation is known as the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.
The bill would require states to recognize concealed carry permits issued by other states.
It would work in the same way that authorities recognize out-of-state driver’s licenses.
On Thursday, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), the bill’s lead sponsor, said:
“There’s a lot of words there, but it’s a very common sense, simple piece of legislation.
“It says that every state should recognize the concealed carry permissions of the other states.”
The proposal has gained support from dozens of Republican lawmakers.
It has even been supported by one Democrat in the past.
Backers argue that the bill protects law-abiding gun owners from becoming criminals simply by crossing state lines.
“When law-abiding citizens are traveling, they shouldn’t be turned into criminals because they cross the state line,” Hudson said.
Trump voiced support for the bill, arguing that constitutional rights are universal.
In a campaign video from 2024, Trump said:
“I will sign concealed carry reciprocity.
“Your Second Amendment does not end at the state line.”
A similar version of the bill passed the House in 2017.
However, the bill stalled in the Senate.
“We got it through the Judiciary Committee, we got it through the House,” Hudson said.
“But the Senate wouldn’t move it.
“[Senate Majority Leader] John Thune is committed to the issue.
“So I think we’ll get it done this time.”
However, the legislation is facing strong opposition from gun control advocates and some state officials.
Critics argue that national reciprocity would override states’ ability to set their own standards for concealed carry, effectively weakening stricter gun laws in states like New York or California.
In a statement, the Michael Bloomberg-funded anti-Second Amendment group Everytown for Gun Safety said:
“These lawmakers are pushing a federal mandate that would override carefully crafted gun safety laws, like New York’s, commanding states to ignore their own laws and instead allow people from across the country to carry loaded, hidden handguns in public without even so much as a permit or background check.”
Opponents also point to major differences in state laws.
Some states prohibit individuals with violent criminal records from carrying concealed weapons, while others have looser restrictions.
A nationwide policy, they argue, could open the door for more dangerous individuals to carry weapons legally in stricter states.
Nevertheless, a universal federal standard could still apply, provided individuals are aware of different state laws.
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