The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, introduced by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-North Carolina) on January 3, is making headlines again. While similar bills have been introduced in the past, there’s potentially a more favorable legislative environment that ups the odds of this bill passing this time around. This article will provide a brief overview of where it’s at in the legislative process and what the bill intends to accomplish.
H.R.38 establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate the carry or possession of concealed firearms across state lines. To date, it has 178 cosponsors, including one Democrat.
Since its introduction in the house in January, three major actions have taken place by the Committee of the Judiciary:
- 03/25/2025 – Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session
- 03/25/2025 – Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 – 9
- 03/25/2025 – The Committee led by Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) voted to move the bill for a full floor vote in the House.
The text of the bill is actually fairly short and straightforward.
Here are the points of interest from our perspective:
- Will ensure that nonresidents of a state can carry concealed firearms in that state if their home state allows concealed carry and they hold a valid permit.
- When the law is used as a defense in a criminal proceeding, it shifts the burden of proof to the prosecution.
- Defines “handgun” to include any magazine for use in a handgun and any ammunition loaded into the handgun or its magazine (protecting against cutesy ploys by states that limit magazine capacity or prohibit certain types of ammo)
- Permits concealed carry in areas of the state open to the public, including:
- The National Park System
- The National Wildlife Refuge System
- Land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management
- Land administered and managed by the Army Corps of Engineers
- Land administered and managed by the Bureau of Reclamation
- Land administered and managed by the Forest Service
Next steps would be for the House to hold a full floor vote. We encourage you to contact Speaker Johnson to voice your support for this landmark bill.
We will continue to follow and report on this story.
