WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), along with 40 of their Senate GOP colleagues, today introduced the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state that allows concealed carry, while still abiding by that state’s laws:

“The Lone Star State has long championed our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, and gun owners in Texas and across the country should not have that fundamental right violated when they cross state lines,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would reduce unnecessary burdens for law-abiding citizens and allow them to carry a concealed firearm in every state that permits it, and I’m grateful for the overwhelming support from my fellow Republican colleagues on this commonsense bill.”

“The rights protected in the Second Amendment are foundational to a free society and the preservation of individual liberty,” said Sen. Cruz. “I am proud to cosponsor this bill, which champions the rights of law-abiding gun owners and ensures those rights are protected.”

“Responsible gun owners shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to exercise their constitutional right when visiting other concealed carry states. This bill would reduce confusion and legal inconsistencies for law-abiding Americans, while also respecting states’ rights to set their own laws,” said Sen. Grassley. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this commonsense law.”

“As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, I’m proud to introduce the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act,” said Sen. Tillis. “This commonsense legislation ensures that law-abiding citizens can exercise their constitutional right to carry concealed firearms across state lines while respecting the laws of each state. This legislation is a critical step in protecting the right of self-defense for Americans, no matter where they travel.”

The legislation is also cosponsored by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Jim Risch (R-ID), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rick Scott (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Katie Britt (R-AL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ted Budd (R-NC), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), John Kennedy (R-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Todd Young (R-IN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jim Banks (R-IN), Tim Scott (R-SC), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Mike Rounds (R-SD), John Curtis (R-UT), John Boozman (R-AR), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), John Hoeven (R-ND), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).

This legislation is endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and Gun Owners of America (GOA):

“On behalf of the millions of NRA members and law-abiding gun owners across the country, the National Rifle Association thanks Senator Cornyn for re-introducing the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act,” said Executive Director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action John Commerford. “This common-sense solution remedies a confusing patchwork of state laws and ensures that your right to self-defense does not stop at the state line.”

“This is common sense legislation that solves the problem of the confusing patchwork of laws surrounding concealed carry permits, particularly with regard to states where laws make unwitting criminals out of legal permit holders for a simple mistake of a wrong traffic turn,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G.  Keane.“This legislation safeguards a state’s right to determine their own laws while protecting the Second Amendment rights of all Americans. NSSF thanks Senator Cornyn for his principled leadership to protect Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners who seek to protect themselves and their loved ones as they travel across state lines.”

“Congress has the opportunity to deliver the greatest legislative victory for the gun rights movement in a century, and President Trump has already voiced his support. With all 50 states now issuing concealed carry permits, 49 states allowing nonresident carry, and 29 states with permitless or Constitutional Carry, it is simply common sense for Congress to ensure that each state’s concealed carry license is valid in every other state,” said GOA Director of Federal Affairs Aidan Johnston. “We thank President Trump for his leadership on this issue and urge Congress to swiftly send Sen. Cornyn’s Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act to the President’s desk to be signed.”

Background on the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act:

• Allows individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state with concealed carry laws;
• 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 limit or road laws;
• And protects state sovereignty by not establishing a national standard for concealed carry.