(The Center Square) – Allowing people with state-issued concealed carry licenses or permits to conceal a handgun in any other state, a bill proposed by a North Carolina congressman, has moved forward from a congressional committee.
The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, authored by Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., and also known as House Resolution 38, would amend title 18 in the United States Code. The Judiciary Committee of the House advanced the bill in a voice vote on Tuesday.
As of midday Wednesday, 178 cosponsors were on board in the chamber. That includes a lone Democrat in Rep. Jared Golden of Maine and each of the nine other Republicans from North Carolina.
Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, chairman of the committee, told colleagues, “Our First Amendment rights do not change from one state to another and our Second Amendment rights should not either. Law-abiding citizens should be able to a concealed firearm between states without worrying about conflicting state criminal laws or onerous civil suits.”
He said there are in excess of 22 million concealed carry permit owners throughout the nation. Twenty-nine states have constitutional carry, or permitless carry laws.
“This means,” Jordan said, “that a state does not require law-abiding citizens to obtain a concealed carry permit or license before carrying a firearm outside their home.”
Democrats, led by ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., voiced opposition to the legislation. Proposed amendments that would have gutted the bill’s intent were rejected by the majority Republican panel.
In a post to social media, the National Rifle Association wrote, “Thank you, Jim Jordan, for your work to advance this bill in the House Judiciary Committee! It’s time to pass the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act and protect law-abiding Americans’ 2A rights!”
President Donald Trump has pledged to sign it if the bill reaches his desk. The House membership is 218 Republicans, 213 Democrats and four vacancies; the Senate membership is 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats and two independents caucusing with Democrats.
“Our Second Amendment right does not disappear when we cross invisible state lines, and this commonsense legislation guarantees that,” Hudson said. “The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act will protect law-abiding citizens’ rights to conceal carry and travel freely between states without worrying about conflicting state codes or onerous civil suits.”
The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, Gun Owners of America, the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation support the legislation.
