Members of the House Republican leadership have introduced a new bill to radically expand concealed carry permits for Americans across the country.
National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson, RN.C., the leader of the House Republican campaign arm, will announce the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act on Tuesday, a bill that has already been approved by more than 120 House members. It has the support of Republican lawmakers.
It also received support from the only member of the House Democratic Caucus, Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine.
“All we’re talking about is requiring states to recognize permits from other states the same way they recognize driver’s licenses,” Hudson told Fox News Digital. Ta. “When I drive from North Carolina across Virginia to D.C., I don’t stop at the Virginia line and take the driving test to get another license. That North Carolina license is not recognized by the state. Masu.”
President-elect Trump has already said he would sign such a bill if it reaches his desk.
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Richard Hudson, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, has announced a bill that would expand concealed carry permits. (Getty Images)
“I’m signing on to concealed carry reciprocity. The Second Amendment doesn’t end at state lines,” he said in a video at the start of his 2024 campaign.
Son Donald Trump Jr. shared the video days after his father was elected president in early November.
Hudson said he had discussed the issue with Trump, but not about specific legislation.
“We know we need his help to get it through the Senate,” the North Carolina Republican said.
The bill passed the House in 2017 but was not taken up in the Senate.
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Currently, there is a patchwork of laws that allow concealed carry. (Jason Connolly/AFP via Getty Images)
But he is optimistic that the bill could reach the White House this time around, given that Republicans control Congress and the president.
“I think we have the best chance since 2017 to get this into law,” Hudson said.
Approximately 22 million Americans have some form of concealed carry permit, according to data released in 2023 by the Social Science Research Network.
He cited the example of Shaneen Allen, a single mother from Philadelphia. She was pulled over during a routine traffic stop in New Jersey and was arrested for illegal possession after she reported her carry permit and the firearm she had concealed in her vehicle.
“There is a patchwork of different state laws when it comes to concealed carry, so this bill makes that clearer and allows law-abiding citizens to become criminals by simply crossing invisible state lines,” Hudson said. This is to rectify the situation that could lead to this.”
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The bill is also backed by gun advocacy groups Gun Owners of America (GOA), the NRA Legislative Institute, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the Concealed Carry Association.
“Currently, all 50 states issue concealed carry permits, 49 states allow nonresident carry, and 29 states allow unauthorized or constitutional carry, making each state’s “It’s just common sense for Congress to ensure that shielded carry licenses are valid in all other states,” the GOA director said. Federal Affairs Director Aidan Johnston told FOX News Digital.
Elizabeth Elkind is a political reporter for FOX News Digital, where she leads coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines can be found on the Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow @liz_elkind on Twitter and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com.
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