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National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill

On Monday, Senator John Cornyn (R. TX) will introduce the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2014, which would allow individuals with concealed carry permits in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state that also has concealed carry laws.

concealed carry

This bill would “treat state-issued concealed-carry permits like drivers’ licenses, allowing law-abiding citizens with concealed carry privileges to concealed-carry in any other states that also permit it by law.”

This isn’t the first time Sen. Cornyn has introduced such legislation. Last April, a similar bill fell just three votes short of obtaining the 60 Senate votes needed to overcome a filibuster. This can definitely pass – contact your Senators and tell them to support this bill.

Press Release

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2014, which would allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state that also has concealed carry laws. The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Thune (R-SD), Vitter (R-LA), Graham (R-SC), Boozman (R-AR), Inhofe (R-OK), Crapo (R-ID), Burr (R-NC), Cochran (R-MS), Johanns (R-NE), Enzi (R-WY), Moran (R-KS), Roberts (R-KS), and Portman (R-OH).

“This bill strengthens two of our nation’s most fundamental rights, ensuring law-abiding gun owners can lawfully carry their weapons into like-minded states, while respecting the rights of states to adopt laws that are best-suited for the people of that state. This is an important affirmation of the Second Amendment and one that has been a top priority of law-abiding gun owners in Texas for some time. It is time to get this done.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2014 would treat state-issued concealed-carry permits like drivers’ licenses, allowing law-abiding citizens with concealed carry privileges to concealed-carry in any other states that also permit it by law.

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18 Responses to National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill

  1. Kenneth January 11, 2014 at 9:41 pm #

    While this is a nice move he is only doing this because he is in the hot seat for not trying to help stop Ocare.

  2. William January 11, 2014 at 9:46 pm #

    QUESTION:
    Scenario, a person with a carry permit from State “A”, is the victim of a gun crime State “B”.
    Could the person from State “A”, bring a suit against State “B” for denying them their constitutional right guaranteed by the second amendment that “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms”,
    What has surprises me is that I have never heard of or seen anything about a suit about this scenario, has anyone?

  3. dgdimick January 11, 2014 at 11:53 pm #

    I wonder how the peoples republic of California, or New York are going to deal with this law.

    • Synscear January 12, 2014 at 3:52 am #

      Same way as before, voting no. They only have to deal with it if it passes. There is also the HoR that it has to go through I believe.

  4. BC January 12, 2014 at 12:17 am #

    I’ve always agreed with National Reciprocity but it will never pass muster in the target states. In most states, you must be 21 to have a permit while in some you must only be 18 (Vermont only 16 without a permit). Some states have range quals that needs to be met while others don’t. Some states are open carry only while others are concealed carry only or allow for both. Instead of allowing for people to be responsible for knowing the law, Libs will just use these points as an excuse to shut it down. By the way, having come from New England: CT, RI, MA and NY all have laws on their books that specifically state that they will only recognize permits issued by their own state.

  5. Tom Ploszaj January 12, 2014 at 10:10 am #

    A very quick reply. Please find a non-government Constitutional course and learn what it really means…..
    Beware. Anyone who understands the Constitution will understand that the Feds have no constitutional say in this. If you want a bill have one that enforces the 2nd A of ” Shall No Infringe” but that will not happen because gun owners still believe that Congress whats to “protect” them and will give the Feds more power. Agreeing that the Feds can continuing making laws about people’s “arms” you think they will not use this national CCW against us?

    • dgdimick January 12, 2014 at 12:18 pm #

      Tom,

      The Federal government has case law showing they are allowed to impose these types of laws; Obama Care.

      So while I agree with you, I could see this passing and go up to the SCOUS. I think it would be good to see this ruled on, only because it could make the feds stop interfering in state issues – not that I really see this law taking off, or passing.

    • Brandon January 12, 2014 at 1:40 pm #

      Thanks for the condescending suggestion Tom, but I understand Federalism quite well. However, please enlighten me – what is the difference between this proposal and state issued driver’s licenses? The Federal gov’t can regulate the issuance procedures and standards for driver’s licenses, but not other state issued licenses?

      Look, I’m against concealed carry licenses in every shape and form. I want National Constitutional Carry, no government permission slip required. The fact that we have to clarify “shall not be infringed” to Democrats makes me sick, but that’s the reality we live in. Until we get Constitutional Carry, I think this is a step in the right direction to keep states like New York from infringing further upon my rights.

      • Mike January 12, 2014 at 2:54 pm #

        I agree. While this isn’t perfect, it’s a step in the right direction. On the Constitutionality, if this isn’t Constitutional, please explain how .gov can regulate State driver’s licenses?

      • Tater Salad January 13, 2014 at 12:09 am #

        Brandon,

        I don’t like it. The Feds screw up everything they touch. If they get this passed it gives them a foot in the door to control it centrally not giving the State’s any say whatsoever. This won’t come right away, but in incremental steps you will see a Federal permit, with Federal hoops, and federal ‘reasonable’ restrictions on what you can carry, how many rounds you can carry and what capacity mags you can carry.

        This could be the beginning of the end of all the good we have done one State at a time for the last several years.

        • Brandon January 13, 2014 at 9:58 am #

          “The Feds screw up everything they touch” – true story.

          Fair points – I guess we’ll have to wait and see. I hate the permit process, but I think if we’re going to be forced into it, other states should recognize them. I don’t have to get a driver’s license in multiple states, and I don’t see this licensing process as any different.

          • Tater Salad January 13, 2014 at 11:45 pm #

            Agree. I hate the permit process. Several States have introduced Constitutional Carry bills every year for several years now. Many would keep their permit process for reciprocity if a person chooses to do so. If we can get a majority of States to honor Constitutional Carry then a permit for reciprocity is almost meaningless.

            I personally would like to see a lot more effort from gun rights groups within the States to push for Constitutional Carry in the State. If this can happen, we don’t have to mess with the Pandora’s Box of federal authority on this issue. When it comes to the federal government, I prefer not to take a wait and see approach, because it probably means I am going to get screwed over.

            I know a lot of folks that really want to see something like this happen, but I just cannot see putting control over a permitting process in the hands of the central government bureaucracy.

            I am no trained constitutional law scholar, but I have conversed in depth on this issue with a fella who is. His vision of what comes after was not heartwarming:

            – May issue States and States with heavy restrictions will challenge the law to the SCOTUS. They will likely be separate cases. A stay on the law will be in place until it is resolved.

            – once passed and vetted by SCOTUS it is within the realm of possibility that, initially, the feds will mandate what kind of weapon, ammo, and mag capacity you can carry across State lines in an effort to make everyone happy in States that are forced to honor outside permits. These restrictions will likely only become more conflated and onerous as time goes on. Probably becoming more difficult to navigate than the maze of individual State laws we have now. This will likely evolve into a federal permit, with Federal restrictions and Federal hoops as I mentioned above. These can be changed via executive policy at a moments notice with little to no say from Congress. We will have given the Federal government exactly what it wants: easy access to restrict the ownership and carry of firearms.

            And we, the gun community, are asking for this so we can carry in every State? Trading one permit process for another?

            Of course this is just two folks speculating, but I think the history of our Federal government’s ‘well intentioned’ programs speaks volumes.about why this is a bad idea.

            I certainly hope this does not pass and become federal law. I hope your readers, and gun owners everywhere, will renew their efforts at the State level for Constitutional Carry making Federal involvement moot.

            I read the blog a lot here, but have not commented a lot. Great stuff, by the way. I look forward to more.

    • teebonicus January 13, 2014 at 11:44 am #

      Tom, while your point seems correct on the surface, it is not.

      Mandating “Full Faith and Credit” is a delegated power.

  6. Shannon January 12, 2014 at 9:36 pm #

    All of the Bill of Rights are valid nationwide, except the 2nd Amendment. This is a travesty.

  7. Charles Givens January 13, 2014 at 12:08 am #

    what about non-residence permits such as Utah or Florida , how would it affect those of us in states like calif..?

    • Texas TopCat January 13, 2014 at 5:20 pm #

      My expectation would be that non-residence permits would cease to be useful.

  8. Matt January 13, 2014 at 7:29 pm #

    The Fed government does not regulate state issued drivers licence. You are allowed to use your state issued driver’s licence in other that the issueing state because of interstae compacts. If you look it up you will see each state has their own requierments when it comes to getting a driver’s licence. The federal government does regulate Commercial licences as this falls under interstate trade. An area they are allowed to regulate. The process that is going on today with each state granting reciprocity is the Constitutinal way. As I would like a National reciprocity, It will never be constitutinal and stand up to the Supreme Court.