One of the more stupid things in this country is the fact that every state in the nation will recognize my marriage license and my driver’s license, but they will not recognize a Georgia concealed carry permit. A lot of them will, admittedly, and I can pick up an out-of-state permit from a couple of other states that will get me access to a lot more, but you can never carry lawfully in all 50 states. Too many have no reciprocity agreement with anyone.
Yes, I’m looking at you, California, Hawaii, and New York.
But there’s been an effort to change that by creating a federal reciprocity law. There was a strong push early in President-elect Donald Trump’s first term to do just that, but it never made it to the floor for a vote and eventually fizzled as Democrats took control of the House.
Now, things are looking different, and it’s a great time to give it another go, and Gun Owners of America is backing it.
Gun Owners of America is proud to endorse Representative Hudson’s and Senator John Cornyn’s National Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. This legislation is not only a major priority for the Second Amendment community, but also President Trump, who ran on the issue by promising:
“[I] will protect the right of self-defense everywhere it is under siege. And I will sign concealed carry reciprocity. Your Second Amendment does not end at the state line.
“That is how I will bring back public safety to America. I want to thank you. We’re going to Make America Great Again and we’re going to Make America Safe Again.”
President Trump is absolutely right. The Second Amendment does not end at state borders. He was just elected with a mandate from the American People to sign nationwide carry to help Make America Safe Again. Now it is your duty as Congress to pass this and send the National Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act to President Trump’s desk!
Complete concealed carry permit reciprocity between the states is a crucial step in creating a safer America for all law-abiding citizens as well as restoring the Second Amendment rights to those wishing to defend themselves.
GOA notes that the time is about as good now as it’s ever going to be, citing lawsuits that changed the status quo in California and Hawaii regarding concealed carry for people who don’t live there, the fact that more than half of the states are constitutional carry and that Bruen made every state “shall issue.”
In other words, we’re living in a golden age, let’s make it shine even more.
Frankly, I hope we actually get it this time.
The only thing better would be national constitutional carry, which would be even more epic, but also far less likely to even get out of committee, unfortunately.
So, I’ll take what I can get, and with GOA backing this, there’s at least some political pressure to actually make this happen. Every gun rights group with a legislative lobbying arm needs to get on this, too, and make it happen quick, fast, and in a hurry.
Read the full article here