WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a letter sent to House Speaker Mike Johnson on November 25, 2025, Gun Owners of America (GOA) President Tim Macy issued a robust defense of H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025, while directly challenging the objections raised by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).
The letter, representing over two million GOA members and supporters, urges support for the bill introduced by Representative Richard Hudson. It seeks to establish nationwide concealed carry reciprocity, allowing law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms across state lines without fear of violating restrictive local laws.
Macy addressed what he called “unwarranted and ill-considered criticisms” by the FOP, arguing that their position favors law enforcement exclusivity while denying ordinary citizens the same rights. He pointed out the FOP’s support of the LEOSA Reform Act, which grants national concealed carry privileges to current and retired law enforcement, and accused the organization of hypocrisy for opposing similar rights for non-law enforcement citizens.
“The Second Amendment does not grant special privileges to law enforcement,” Macy wrote. “Congress should protect and restore the right to carry handguns free from local gun, magazine, and ammunition bans for all the People—not just police.”
GOA emphasized that concerns frequently raised by law enforcement organizations about public safety in Constitutional Carry states have proven unfounded. With 29 states already permitting permitless carry, Macy stated that crime and officer safety have not suffered.
The letter also cited multiple data points and surveys, including a 2021 survey of police chiefs and sheriffs showing nearly 90% support for concealed carry reciprocity, and another showing that the majority of officers believe armed citizens help stop mass shootings. Macy went further to include examples where armed citizens had stepped in to assist police officers during violent encounters, including incidents in Arizona, Florida, and Washington state.
Responding to specific FOP objections, the letter clarifies that H.R. 38:
- Does not override the Gun Free School Zones Act.
- Does not prevent lawful arrests or firearm seizures during investigations unrelated to firearm possession.
- Will not reduce officer safety.
- Provides no new cause to remove qualified immunity, unless officers violate clearly established constitutional rights.
Macy concluded by urging Congress to side with gun owners and supportive law enforcement officials, asserting that “the vast majority of law enforcement officers support the Second Amendment right to bear arms for self-defense in public.”
The letter reaffirms GOA’s long-standing advocacy for Constitutional Carry and its commitment to national reciprocity as a means of restoring full Second Amendment protections across all states.
Gun Owners of America continues to lead the fight for national concealed carry reciprocity by addressing legitimate confusion and opposition with facts, historical precedent, and public safety data. While some law enforcement groups resist the idea, the growing momentum behind Constitutional Carry — now active in more than half of U.S. states — proves that law-abiding citizens responsibly carrying firearms does not threaten public safety. On the contrary, armed citizens have repeatedly demonstrated their role as first responders in critical incidents. H.R. 38 represents an important step in ensuring that Second Amendment rights do not vanish at state lines.
