By Robert Laurie ——Bio and Archives--December 5, 2017
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Are you a gun owner? Are you a gun owner with a concealed carry permit? If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, the odds are you've been keeping your eye on the slow, steady, advancement of the National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.
The Bill, which is currently inching its way out of Committee and onto the House floor, would mean that the rights of a concealed weapons permit holder in one state would be recognized in other states that allow similar licenses. It would make movement, and self-defense, less complicated for interstate travelers who are already qualified to carry on their home turf.
It also just makes sense. After all, if you have a concealed carry license in one state, you've obviously passed a federal background check. You shouldn't be penalized thanks to the labyrinthine firearms laws that come into play when moving about the country.
This bill amends the federal criminal code to allow a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun into or possess a concealed handgun in another state that allows individuals to carry concealed firearms. A qualified individual must: (1) be eligible to possess, transport, or receive a firearm under federal law; (2) carry a valid photo identification document; and (3) carry a valid concealed carry permit issued by, or be eligible to carry a concealed firearm in, his or her state of residence. Additionally, the bill specifies that a qualified individual who lawfully carries or possesses a concealed handgun in another state: (1) is not subject to the federal prohibition on possessing a firearm in a school zone, and (2) may carry or possess the concealed handgun in federally owned lands that are open to the public.Now a letter has been signed by the Attorneys General of 23 states supporting the measure - which will almost certainly make their jobs easier as it simultaneously protects 2nd Amendment rights. The letter reads:
As the chief legal officers of our States, we, the undersigned 23 state Attorneys General, write in support of the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 (S. 446) and the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 (H.R. 38). We share a strong interest in the protection of our citizens’ Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, and we are committed to supporting federal and state policies to preserve that constitutional right. These bills, if enacted, would eliminate significant obstacles to the exercise of the right to keep and bear arms for millions of Americans in every State.
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