NC Congressman Reintroduces Concealed Carry Reciprocity Legislation

NORTH CAROLINA -- One North Carolina lawmaker on Capitol Hill wants to see concealed carry permits obtained in the Tar Heel state recognized across the country.

The concealed carry reciprocity legislation is being pushed by Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C.
Democrats in Congress are pushing their own legislation dealing with guns. The bill expands background checks.
At the state level, North Carolina is one of many states that already has a law on the books recognizing the concealed carry permits of other states.
The concealed carry reciprocity legislation is being pushed by Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C. “If I have a concealed carry permit in North Carolina, then every state has to recognize that. That is a valid concealed carry permit,” he said.

Nearly identical legislation – also sponsored by Hudson - found success in the U.S. House last Congress. It did not, however, make it through the Senate.

Hudson says he is pushing for the bill in part because people have been arrested for crossing into a different state with a concealed weapon.

“We’re not taking away any of the states’ rights to regulate firearms within their state. All we’re saying is an individual person doesn’t become a criminal because they’ve driven across that imaginary state line,” Hudson said.

During the last Congress, the NRA counted Hudson’s bill among its top legislative priorities.

At the time, the International Association of Chiefs of Police raised concerns, citing how different states have different standards for getting a permit. Some do not even require a permit at all.

“No state should be forced to accept a person carrying a concealed that does not meet the standards the state has set for its own citizen,” wrote Louis M. Dekmar, the president of the IACP at the time. “[This bill] would severely interfere with local law enforcement’s ability to prevent gun violence and safeguard the public.”

Hudson disagrees that the legislation puts the public in harm’s way. “If one state has stricter requirements, it doesn’t mean that the other states have a bunch of law-breaking concealed carry people,” he said.

Last Congress, Hudson’s bill made it through the U.S. House with overwhelming Republican support. This time around, it is likely dead on arrival. The major difference: Democrats are now in control of the lower chamber.

“You know, different strokes for different folks. Different strokes for different states. I’m very uncomfortable with that idea,” said Rep. Alma Adams, D-N.C., when asked about the reciprocity proposal.

Democrats in Congress are pushing their own legislation dealing with guns. The bill expands background checks. It is likely to get tied up in the Republican-controlled Senate.

At the state level, North Carolina is one of many states that already has a law on the books recognizing the concealed carry permits of other states.