NC congressman introduces Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-North Carolina) showed his Second Amendment support soon after being sworn into the 119th Congress.

Hudson on Jan. 8 led more than 120 colleagues by introducing the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38).

"This bipartisan legislation would provide nationwide reciprocity for concealed carry license holders and for residents of Constitutional Carry states," he said in a Jan. 8 news release on his webpage at hudson.house.gov.

"Our Second Amendment right does not disappear when we cross invisible state lines, and this commonsense legislation guarantees that," Hudson said. "The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act will protect law-abiding citizens' rights to conceal carry and travel freely between states without worrying about conflicting state codes or onerous civil suits. I am proud to see such strong and widespread support, and I will not stop fighting to get this legislation signed into law."

H.R. 38 would allow people with state-issued concealed carry licenses or permits to conceal a handgun in any other state. It also allows residents of Constitutional Carry states to carry in other states.

In December 2017, a similar bill introduced by Hudson was passed by the House with bipartisan support but was not taken up in the Senate. Hudson has repeatedly said he would continue to pursue the legislation. This time around, Republicans have control of both the House and Senate.

President-elect Donald J. Trump back in November announced his own plans for national concealed-carry reciprocity.

"I will protect the right of self-defense everywhere it is under siege, and I will sign concealed-carry reciprocity," he said in an Instagram video posted by his son, Donald Trump Jr. "Your Second Amendment does not end at the state lines."

Ohio cosponsors include Reps. Troy Balderson (R-12th District), Warren Davidson (R-8th District), Robert Latta (R-5th District), and David Taylor (R-2nd District).

Read the full text of the bill here.

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