WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) joined a group of Republican colleagues to introduce the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. This legislation will allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state with concealed carry laws, while abiding by that state’s laws.
 
Led by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas), the legislation is co-sponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Ron Johnson (R-WI), John Kennedy (R-LA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
 
The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act: 
 
Protects Fundamental Constitutional Rights

  • Allows law-abiding citizens to exercise their fundamental right to self-defense while they are traveling or temporarily living away from home.

 

  • Allows individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to conceal carry in any other states that also allow concealed carry.

 

  • Treats state-issued concealed carry permits like drivers’ licenses where an individual can use their home-state license to drive in another state but must abide by that other state’s speed limits and road laws.

 

Respects State Sovereignty       

  • Does not establish national standards for concealed carry.

 

  • Does not provide for a national concealed carry permit.

 

  • Does not allow a resident to circumvent their home state’s concealed carry permit laws. If under current law an individual is prohibited by federal law from carrying a firearm, they will continue to be prohibited from doing so under the bill.

 

  • Respects state laws concerning specific types of locations in which firearms may not be carried and types of firearms which may not be carried by the visiting individual.

 

  • Protects states’ rights by not mandating the right to concealed carry in places that do not allow the practice.

 

Has Broad Support

  • Last Congress, identical legislation had 40 co-sponsors. In the 113th Congress, a nearly identical amendment received 57 votes in the Senate, including 13 Democrat votes.


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