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National reciprocity for concealed carry passed the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday is expected to receive a floor vote before the end of the year.

The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 was introduced by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) on January 3, 2017. It changes federal law that so concealed carry permits are treated like driver’s licenses, making a permit from one state valid in the other 49. This would fix the complicated and often confusing patchwork of concealed carry laws currently in effect throughout the country.

WASHINGTON - A House panel advanced a GOP measure Wednesday that would greatly expand the ability of Americans to carry concealed weapons across state lines, while also moving on a bipartisan basis to close loopholes in the federal background check system for gun buyers.

The two bills are the first firearms-related legislation to advance on Capitol Hill since mass shooters in Las Vegas and Texas killed a combined 84 people. The House Judiciary Committee approved the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act on a 19-11 party-line vote, then passed the Fix NICS Act on a 17-6 bipartisan vote.

A House committee advanced legislation Wednesday that would allow Americans who legally carry concealed guns in their home states to travel anywhere in the U.S. with their firearms, overriding state laws that tightly restrict who can bear arms in public.

The House Judiciary Committee’s 19-11 vote, along party lines, marked Congress’s first action on firearm legislation since a gunman killed 58 people at an Oct. 1 music festival in Las Vegas and a shooter in Texas opened fire at a church on Nov. 5, killing 26 people.

The House Concealed Carry Reciprocity bill passed out of the Judiciary Committee Wednesday in a vote of 19-11, but the bill faces an uphill battle.

North Carolina Republican Rep. Richard Hudson praised the bill he proposed back in January saying in a statement: “My bill is a simple, common sense solution to the confusing hodgepodge of concealed carry reciprocity agreements between states. It will affirm that law-abiding citizens who are qualified to carry concealed in one state can also carry in other states that allow residents to do so.”

WASHINGTON — A key House panel passed legislation Wednesday to expand the rights of concealed carry permit holders — the National Rifle Association’s top legislative priority — as part of the first congressional action on gun legislation since this fall’s mass shootings.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 19-11 in favor of the “Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act” Wednesday, after rejecting numerous attempts by Democrats to amend the bill. The members also approved a less controversial bill 17-6 to boost authorities' compliance with the federal background check system.

Since 2011, North Carolina has recognized permits issued by other states to carry a concealed weapon. But not everyone returns the favor.

Thirty-six states accept North Carolina concealed-carry permits, including Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and West Virginia. But Maryland, for example, does not.

Rep. Richard Hudson has long wanted concealed-carry permits treated like driver’s licenses and considered valid as lawful permit holders cross state lines. His persistent efforts paid off Wednesday when the House Judiciary Committee advanced his proposal.

The national gun-carry reciprocity bill will enter the next phase of the lawmaking process on Wednesday when it enters markup in the House.

Rep. Richard Hudson’s (R-NC) national reciprocity legislation will receive a markup from the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, making it possible for the bill to receive a floor vote by the end of the year.

Hudson’s legislation, Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, was introduced on January 3, 2017. It treats a concealed carry permit like a driver’s license, making a permit from one state valid in the other 49. In so doing it would correct the complicated and often confusing patchwork of concealed carry laws currently in effect throughout the country.