01.10.19

Hoeven Cosponsors Concealed-Carry Bill

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven this week helped introduce the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (S. 69). The legislation is sponsored by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and allows 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.

“This legislation is all about protecting individuals’ Second Amendment rights while also respecting state sovereignty,” Hoeven said. “Essentially, our legislation extends to individuals with concealed carry permit privileges the ability to conceal carry in other states with concealed carry provisions. This will help preserve the right to self-defense for law-abiding citizens without infringing on states’ rights.”

Additional cosponsors of the legislation include Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), 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), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), 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.).

Details of the legislation are as follows:

Protects Second Amendment Rights: 

  • Allows law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to self-defense while traveling or temporarily living away from home. 
  • Allows individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to conceal carry in other states that 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 limit and road laws. 

Respects State Sovereignty: 

  • Does not establish national standards for concealed carry or provide for a national concealed carry permit. 
  • Does not allow a resident to circumvent their home state’s concealed carry permit laws and continues to prohibit an individual from carrying a firearm if they are currently prohibited by federal and state law.
  • Does not mandate the right to concealed carry and respects state laws concerning where firearms may not be carried and types of firearms which may not be carried. 

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