Hudson's Major Gun Bill Passes House

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), author of the bipartisan Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38), released the following statement after the bill passed the House, 231-198:

This bill is one of the most important pro-Second Amendment measures in Congress, with some supporters calling it the greatest gun rights boost since ratification of Second Amendment in 1791. Last week, 24 state attorneys general, America’s highest-ranking law enforcement officers, sent a letter to Congress asking representatives to support H.R. 38.

Earlier today, Rep. Hudson spoke on the House floor to urge support and has appeared on FOX & Friends First and Fox News @ Night to talk about his bill.

Currently, the patchwork of reciprocity laws and agreements between states is confusing and has caused law-abiding citizens like Shaneen Allen to unwittingly break the law and suffer arrest and detention. Even the most careful and knowledgeable concealed carry permit holders find it difficult to navigate the current maze of state and local concealed carry laws. H.R. 38 is a common sense solution. The bill, which is supported by major pro-Second Amendment groups and has 213 cosponsors, would allow law-abiding citizens with a state-issued concealed carry license or permit to conceal a handgun in any other state that allows concealed carry. It would also allow law-abiding residents of Constitutional carry states the ability to carry in other states that recognize their own residents’ right to concealed carry.

H.R. 38 would allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed only if they are not federally prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm, are carrying a valid government-issued photo ID, and are lawfully licensed or otherwise entitled to carry a concealed handgun. Each person would have to follow the laws of the state, county and municipality in which they are carrying concealed.

For a one-pager on the bill, click here. For a Q&A document, click here.

In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Supreme Court ruled that “the inherent right of self-defense has been central to the Second Amendment right,” which is “the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation.” This fundamental right does not stop at a state’s borders and law-abiding citizens should be able to exercise this right when crossing state lines. In addition, Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution states, “Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof.” This is the clause that allows a driver’s license to be recognized across state lines. In addition, under H.R. 38, states would retain their authority to enact restrictions on where, when and how people can lawfully carry in the state.