Congressman Nick Begich III has signed on as a cosponsor of H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.
In Alaska, Begich said, firearms are a fundamental way of life.
“The right to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities does not fade away as you cross an imaginary line. That’s why I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of H.R. 38, and I encourage my colleagues in the House to support this important piece of legislation.”
Congressman Richard Hudson of North Carolina led over 120 of his colleagues in introducing H.R. 38. The legislation would provide nationwide reciprocity for concealed carry license holders and for residents of constitutional carry states.
Hudson introduced the bill in previous years. In December 2017, the bill passed the House with bipartisan support, yet it was not taken up in the Senate.
Rep. Hudson has repeatedly said he would continue to pursue the legislation, again in 2023, and again not being taken up in the Senate.
Then-Rep. Mary Peltola, who was voted out of office in November, chose not to co-sponsor the 2023 attempt to pass the bill and it is doubtful President Joe Biden would have signed it.
President Donald Trump, however, has committed to signing national concealed carry reciprocity legislation into law.
The bill has support of the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America.
“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,” said Aidan Johnston, Gun Owners of America Director of Federal Affairs.“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. We thank President Trump for his leadership on this issue and urge Congress to swiftly send Rep. Hudson’s Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act to the President’s desk to be signed.”
“On behalf of the USCCA’s more than 850,000 members nationwide, we applaud Congressman Hudson’s continued leadership in defending the rights of responsibly-armed Americans,” said Tim Schmidt, President and Co-Founder of U.S. Concealed Carry Association. “Our Constitutional rights do not end at state lines. This legislation is critical to ensuring law-abiding gun owners’ fundamental right to defend themselves and their loved ones regardless of geography or location. The USCCA remains committed to seeing H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, one of the most consequential reforms for gun owners nationwide, signed into law.”
National Shooting Sports Foundation Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence Keane said, “This legislation eliminates the confusing patchwork of laws surrounding concealed carry permits that vary from state-to-state, particularly with regard to states where laws make unwitting criminals out of legal permit holders for a simple mistake of a wrong traffic turn. It safeguards a state’s right to determine their own laws while protecting the Second Amendment rights of all Americans. We thank Rep. Hudson for his leadership on behalf of America’s hunters and recreational shooters.”
NB3 certainly on-fire, remarkably more so than Mary-P. Lisa could learn something from NB3, as well as shake the dust off her soul and get busy working for Alaska and Alaskans!
Mary had her chance to learn alot, but sided with the wrong side..
Lisa is too busy trying to figure out how to cheat her way through the next election.
There are localized reasons that this Federal law would have unintended consequences. Alaska should not be dictating to other States, each State should decide what they want. Alaskans can’t conceal and carry by road,or air to other States anyway.
Nope. 2A is exactly like all the other inherent rights recognized by the Bill of Rights. States cannot violate the right of free speech, the right to keep and bear arms, etc. Without that the US Constitution would never have been ratified. If a license must be purchased to buy, own, or carry a firearm then that is exactly the same as requiring a license be purchased to write a letter to the editor of this website. The US Supreme Court has said that. It is how I read the Constitution.
The only “unintended consequences” I foresee are lack of education, education, education.
———With all 50 states now issuing concealed-carry permits… .———
Actually, Vermont never did, and still doesn’t, issue or require a permit for anyone over 16.
Cacaphony-ah theoretically issues them , but in reality, only a few of the counties really will grant one. They’re at the discretion of the Sheriff of each county, and the chief of police in incorporated cities. And after a very long, drawn out process and hundreds of dollars in expenses, including a,psych evaluation AND a class with a live fire requirement with whatever handgun you intend on carrying. They put the serial number ON the permit itself.Don’t get caught carrying a different one.
I’m all for STATES granting reciprocity, but let the Federal government get involved today and tomorrow when the law suits come or a new administration is in power and we will see states rights eroded even more due to arguments that the Federal government has regulatory power due impart to Legislation like this.
Does Roe v Wade ring a bell? How long has it taken to get wrestle that issue back to local control?
Does this mean NB3 leans Federalist as opposed to States Rights or is it poor judgment and a show vs go Legislation?
If the right to an abortion was recognized in the Bill of Rights then the abortion question would not have been sent back to the states. Abortions were known and advertised in newspapers at the time the Bill of Rights was drafted.
Without a license (Alaska), the act of reciprocity can not be completed as the state you wish to carry in requires a physical license. So, though you don’t have to have one to conceal carry in Alaska, when you travel, you must be able to provide evidence to any legal authority making an inquiry.
I’m warming up to this lad.(Smile)
Get an Alaska Concealed Handgun permit, had one for 10 years.
Alaska ID.
I knew I liked Nick.
He needs a different look though
I don’t care if he has a mohawk. He’s doing the right thing by being vocal and pursuing the wishes of Alaskans. As a result I’ve seen Dan Sullivan’s picture two days in a row, that’s never happened.
Nick and company are moving the needle in the right direction. We should be able to travel anywhere in our republic and be able to protect ourselves.
Dave…. your comment is true on account of the 2nd Amendment. Moreover, states are prohibited from abridging any of the liberties protected by the Bill of Rights. Therefore, technically, requiring a concealed carry permit in any state is an unconstitutional infringement upon our rights. Its yet another example of where the Supreme Court failed to protect us. Albeit their recent Bruen goes in the right direction.
Another fantastic move by NB3. Nick is doing more in one week than Peltola did in 2 years.
Mary…….who????
Nick hit the ground running and is showing the doubters he’s the real thing. I’m very glad to be part of a group that has supported him from day one, good things ahead.
Thank you, Congressman. Here’s to success.
This was not on my bingo card. Good on the Nickster. It almost makes me forget all the crap that Mary Peltola voted for. Almost.
Keep up the good work, Begich.
This is why we needed to elect Nick Begich.
Ya, we’ll ignore the trillion dollar deficits in the GOP National Budgets, denial of voting rights for certain citizens of the USA, lack of affordable health care, as long as we can pack all will be good. ;).
Who has been denied voting rights? Illegals? Dead people? Does affordable health care fall entirely on the GOP? The Democrats and big Pharma are tied tightly together. The deficit cannot be pinned on one party.
When did the Republicans ever deny anyone the right to vote?
Please, cite the action, as well as when.
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Also, what exactly did the GOP do to stop affordable health care? Please do not tell me that opposing 0bamacare is denying affordable health care. That single law did more to skyrocket the cost of medical care than any action the GOP could ever have taken.
Permit? Permission from the government to exercise a basic human right makes carry seem more like a privilege. We do not need the government’s permission.
The difference between this and Roe v. Wade, is that Congress never made a law regarding access to abortion across the country. This law should end the patchwork of gun permit laws that act to preclude Americans of 2A rights when traveling in certain states. If you come from a state like Alaska that has no concealed carry permit requirements, you should be allowed to carry your gun throughout the nation without a permit.
It doesn’t surprise me that Peltola didn’t sponsor this in 2023, but I was shocked and disappointed to see the NRA endorse her over Begich. Hopefully the numbskull who pushed that is no longer working for the NRA.
Not sure I agree totally…
First of all, I think the States do have a right to require some sort of permit. There should be some kind of minimum that needs to be met for any action that requires a demonstrable level of responsibility. But, that is and MUST remain at the state level. However, if you demonstrate you are responsible, there is no reason why your right to carry should be restricted to a single state. No different than driving.
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The need for this law arises not from permitting, but from states refusing to acknowledge other states permits. And, it also comes from some states making the permit process so onerous that it is a defacto ban on carrying. (NY, I am looking your way…)
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Finally, the NRA endorsed Peltola because she had a voting record, NBIII did not. With nothing other than campaign promises to go on from Begich, they made a call.