Constitutional Carry States’ Rights Act Introduced to Close Loophole

We all know that states that have passed Constitutional Carry or Permitless Carry laws make it legal for you to carry a firearm in that state without having a concealed carry permit or license.

Not all Constitutional Carry laws are the same. Some states such as Alaska, West Virginia, Wyoming, only allow residents to carry without a permit. While some other states allow residents and non-residents carry without a license or permit, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho to name a few. Some Constitutional Carry states continue to issues concealed carry permits but Vermont, for example, doesn’t issue concealed carry permits. Check out our Concealed Carry Maps for a full breakdown.

But what about the Gun-Free School Zones Act which requires anyone within 1,000 feet of a school to have a concealed carry permit or license if they are carrying a handgun? If you are carrying concealed in a Constitutional Carry state but don’t have a permit or license from that state, you can’t carry within 1,000 feet of a school. But if the person next to you is carrying concealed with a permit or license from that state, they can carry within 1,000 feet of that school. You are both legally carrying so why can’t you carry in the same places as the person with the permit or license?

And that is why U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced the Constitutional Carry States’ Rights Act on May 16, 2019.

The Constitutional Carry States’ Rights Act that would close a loophole in the Gun-Free School Zones Act. It would give law-abiding citizens in states with Constitutional Carry laws the same legal authority to possess a firearm as individuals in states that require a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

I think this makes perfect sense. If you are carrying legally under Constitutional Carry, then you should be able to carry in the same places that someone with a concealed carry permit or license can carry. In a perfect world, I would like to see gun-free zones removed altogether, but that won’t be happening anytime soon. At least this is a step in the right direction. Whether it passes or not will be another story.