Last week, a bill hit the 119th Congress that could evaporate state-based restrictions against lawful concealed carry while moving around the U.S. 

Filed as H.R. 38 on Friday, the first day the new Congress met, the bill aims to "provide a means by which nonresidents of a State whose residents may carry concealed firearms may also do so in the State."

The proposal was introduced by U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-SC), who introduced the bipartisan Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act in previous years. In Dec. 2017, an earlier version of the bill passed the House with a vote of 231-198 but was not taken up in the Senate. 

While the current language is unavailable, past versions codified the ability for those with state-issued concealed carry licenses or permits to conceal a handgun in any other state, as long as the permit holder follows the laws of that state. It also allowed residents of permitless carry or constitutional carry states the ability to carry in other states.

Research by the Crime Prevention Research Center points to no less than 21.4 million active concealed carry permits nationwide in 2024. Meanwhile, no less than 29 states recognize permitless carry laws. 

"H.R. 38 guarantees the Second Amendment does not disappear when crossing an invisible state line," said Rep. Hudson of his bill in 2023. "The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act protects law-abiding citizens' rights to conceal carry and travel freely between states without worrying about conflicting state codes or onerous civil suits."

The current proposal has 108 co-sponsors, all Republican, and has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

During his 2024 election campaign, President Trump promised to sign concealed carry reciprocity legislation, saying, "Your Second Amendment does not end at the state line."

Banner image: Ruger RXM in Galco holster. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)