With several bills on the subject currently on Republican-controlled Capitol Hill, President Trump this week said carry reform is something the administration is actively pursuing.
The remarks came during a three-hour event held Tuesday by Trump at a Mack Trucks facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania, a key battleground district. Trump thanked recently elected NRA President Bill Bachenberg, who was in the crowd, then touched on carry legislation.
"They always give me their endorsement because I saved the Second Amendment," said Trump in reference to the NRA. "And you think it's easy? On occasion, it was not easy, right, Bill? But we did it. We did it with your help. And we're doing other things, working with you and your people, but I think you've done a fantastic job. The NRA, everybody, they really have been with me right from the beginning. Bill asked me, 'would I support the national right to carry legislation?'" he said.
Trump then addressed the crowd directly, saying, "How do you feel about national right to carry?" and was met with general applause.
"That's my free poll. You know that is just a free poll. I don't have to pay $300,000 to somebody that doesn't even do polling. You know, you give your phony numbers. See, those are real numbers. National right to carry. Yeah, we're working on it," he responded before moving on to talking about the Freedom 250 UFC fight on the White House lawn last week.
Trump has circled back to the promise of national carry reform several times over the past decade, but hasn't been able to move the needle on the subject.
Currently, at least two distinct legislative efforts are underway in Congress to craft some sort of homogeneity across the often widely different state laws when it comes to recognizing licensed concealed and lawful permitless carry.
The most popular of the two moves, at least with lawmakers, is the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which has been filed in the House as H.R.38 and S.65, with 189 and 47 co-sponsors, respectively. The legislation would provide nationwide reciprocity for concealed carry license holders as well as for residents of Constitutional Carry states, safeguarding them across the country. However, it does little for those living in the 11 restrictive "may issue" or "no-issue" states where legal carry is more concept than reality.
The second effort is the National Constitutional Carry Act, which is filed as H.R.645 and S.4013, but has only 73 co-sponsors. A much more muscular effort than the other package, the National Constitutional Carry Act would ensure the right to carry legally purchased firearms without a permit nationwide.
While Trump's remarks on the subject were few and sandwiched in a much longer and winding speech, they did catch the attention of anti-gun groups, who were quick to register their displeasure with any sort of carry reform.
"Concealed carry reciprocity is a dangerously reckless proposal, and would jeopardize the lives of children, families, and police," said Giffords Executive Director Emma Brown in a statement.
On the other side of the argument, pro-2A groups embraced the fact that the White House is at least airing the conversation in public, but stressed that any such move on carry rights comes with pitfalls. The proof is in the pudding, so to speak.
"While current legislative vehicles contain some positive provisions, they also contain significant problems that could leave peaceable people vulnerable to arrest, prosecution, or the loss of their rights despite supposedly being protected," said the Firearms Policy Coalition in a statement. "A bill that claims to protect gun owners while leaving them exposed to legal traps, conflicting laws, or uncertain protections is not enough. Gun owners need and deserve better than that."
Banner image: A CZ P-10C Ported 9mm pistol with a Streamlight TLR-7 series white light makes a great carry pairing. The extra mag wears a minimalist NeoMag pocket clip. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
