Trump Backs Effort To Restore Nationwide Gun Rights With Reciprocity Bill
House Republicans are advancing a bill to establish nationwide concealed carry reciprocity, a significant move supported by President Donald Trump. The legislation, titled the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38), would allow permit holders to carry concealed firearms across state lines without facing legal obstacles.
Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) is leading the charge, with over 120 Republican lawmakers backing the bill. Hudson emphasized that Americans’ Second Amendment rights should not be limited by state borders. “Our right to self-defense doesn’t stop when we travel to another state,” he said, underscoring the bill’s focus on eliminating confusion for law-abiding gun owners.
The legislation is designed to work similarly to driver’s license recognition between states, ensuring that state-issued concealed carry permits are honored nationwide. It also extends protections to residents of Constitutional Carry states, allowing them to carry legally in states with stricter regulations while respecting local firearm laws.
Pro-gun organizations, including Gun Owners of America and the NRA, have praised the bill as a long-overdue effort to safeguard Second Amendment rights. “This bill could mark one of the most significant victories for gun owners in decades,” said Aidan Johnston, GOA’s Director of Federal Affairs. The groups have urged Congress to move swiftly to send the legislation to President Trump’s desk.
Despite the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision affirming the right to carry firearms for self-defense, many blue states have continued to impose strict regulations, designating extensive areas as off-limits for concealed carry. These include places like bars, museums, and even certain private properties without explicit consent.
President Trump has publicly committed to signing the bill into law if it passes through Congress. The proposal aims to empower an estimated 22 million concealed carry permit holders to travel freely across the United States without fear of conflicting state laws.
