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National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill Reintroduced

March 16, 2011 | by

HR 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill, has been reintroduced with the hope that the new Congress will be more enthusiastic about passing it.  The current bill provides that anyone who has a valid firearm carry permit can use that permit in any other state that issues concealed weapons themselves, provided they are not a resident of the ‘other’ state.  You would still be under all the same rules and restrictions of the state you were visiting though (magazine limits, pistol free areas, etc).  This bill also covers Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and U.S. territories.

Congress is empowered in the constitution to enforce all amendments, including the second, so this is not an overreach of federal power.  We’ll keep an eye on this to see what changes the bill may get it moves forward.


Track H.R.822 National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill at OpenCongress.org

HR 822 National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Bill

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  • Anonymous

    As convenient as this law would be, I think it is a bad idea, since it gives the federal government more control over what should be a state decision. The only input I’d want from the federal government is a negative one, that it stop interfering with a citizen’s right to carry arms. But I might be persuaded otherwise

    • Gary

      My guess is that you don’t travel much. I travel all over the place and I hate having to memorize which states require me to lock my gun in the trunk just because their state doesn’t recognize any of my CCW permits.

      • Kkaplan

        It’s true, although I work in NYC and it’ll be worth the hassle to keep it in my trunk just to cc in Bloomberg’s backyard.

        • JP

          Kkaplan I SPENT $440 TO APPLY FOR A PREMISE PERMIT IN NY. IT WAS DENIED ON THE GROUNDS THAT I HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF A GRAVITY KNIFE. WHAT THESE ASSES AT 0NE POLICE PLAZA CONSIDER A SERIOUS OFFENSE KEEP IN MIND I WAS WEARING A PRIVATE SANTATION UNIFORM AT THE TIME I WAS ARRESTED AND STATED I WORK ON A RECYCLE ROUTE. THEN I SPENT $21OO ON AN APPEAL. WHY SO MUCH? BECAUSE THE APPEAL HAS TO LOOK LIKE AN APPEAL. THEY REALLY WANT IT WRITTEN BY A LAWYER TO DISCOURAGE U FROM FIGHTING THERE DECISION . ANY WAY LONG STORY SHORT AFTER 1O MONTHS THE APPEAL WAS DENIED ON THE FACT I WAS ARRESTED FOR A KNIFE I USE TO CUT CARDBOARD. THEN THEY STATED IN THE DENIAL THAT I COULD PRESUE AN ARTICLE 48 IN SUPREME COURT WHICH COST $ 4500. TO SUM IT ALL UP I GAVE UP. SO U KNOW WHAT I THINK OF THE MAYOR RIGHT! IF HE DOESNT WANT PERMITS IN NYC THEN HE SHOULD TAKE ALL THE FIREARMS FROM HIS SECURITY DETAIL CAUSE HE MUST FEEL NYC IS JUST SO SAFE NO ONE NEEDS A FIREARM FOR PROTECTION. REMEMBER THE COPS HERE ARE TRAINED SO WELL , U COULD TELL THEY EVEN SHOT EACH OTHER.

      • Anonymous

        But this is just a reciprocity agreement, isn’t it? It doesn’t make all the laws uniform. The article says you still have to abide by individual state regulations – so the law wouldn’t help much, you still have to know this or that restriction. As for me, I just know no Illinois or Wisconsin carry, and I doubt I’ll ever be traveling to the east coast or commie west coast … but I guess for you guys that live up there it does give you some freedom at least

        • Glasrid

          The language is pretty damn carefully worded in this bill so that it doesn’t actually give the feds any authority over RTC permits. It in essence removes the option of various states to pick and choose whose RTC permits they will honor, unless the person in question is a resident of that state. It’s a huge step to standardizing RTC as some have mentioned just like a drivers liscense.

          I feel you on the whole problem with the may issue states having their heads up their collective rear ends. Been in CA for the last 12 years, hell I was in the CA National Guard and they still wouldn’t grant me mine. Gives you an idea how insulted I was when the local sheriff denied my permit, especially since I have expert marksmanship awards for everything from pistols to grenade launchers to freaking bradley tanks. Time to move back to TX and then when I go back to visit my family in CA I can thumb my nose at that moron. Still it kinda sucks that I have to vote with my feet to be able to excercise my rights.

          • Coyote

            Indeed, it does suck. But consider: you ~can~ vote with your feet.

            Last night, I watched the movie, Good. Think of it as similar to Conspiracy. The victims couldn’t even do vote with their feet. They just got murdered.

  • Kkaplan

    Not convenient at all for me. As I live in NJ, the line that says “other than the State of Residence” would mean that my Florida CCL would allow me to carry in all the States EXCEPT NJ (and those that deny the right).

    • JP

      YOUR RIGHT THIS CANT HELP ME EITHER, I LIVE IN NYC AND HAVE CCL IN NH,FL AND UTAH. THE BILL SHOULD STATE IF YOU HAVE A CCL FROM ANY STATE ALL STATE MOST HONOR IT. LAST I CHECKED ALL THE STATE ARE IN AMERICA !

  • Anonymous

    Although I have a CCW permit, I believe in the basic concept of constitutional carry. It is easier at this point to pay the fee and not risk losing the right as they see it. But I believe we should ultimately have the right to carry with no tax or license fee whatsoever. Laws should be strictly enforced to deal with convicted violent criminals and stop the punishment of law abiding Americans that carry to protect themselves and their families. If we accept some of these laws it only gives gun control advocates more power to gradually creep in with tyrannical laws that infringe on the constitution.

  • John Dalco

    I hope it goes through this time. Your CCW license should be recognized just like your drivers license in all the states. . . I will take what I can get. . . .

  • Lew

    Another area that seems to make perfect common sense and yet eludes being passed. The Supreme Court had ruled and now States should be mandated to follow that ruling. Also it is possible that with passing this we might be able to save some money by streamlining the laws of each State and consolidating the system.. Of course again this might make to much sense.

  • Anonymous

    Living just outside of Boston and frequently travelling to NH and ME to visit family and friends from where I grew up, I’m forced to have 3 CCW licenses. I think this bill is a great idea especially if you live in an area where the states are small, close, and travelling between states is frequent and easy

  • Dave Templeton

    Let’s see now…..national reciprocity would let me carry in other states which issue as long as I’m not a resident of the other state? So, if I live in California, my Nevada permit is valid everywhere EXCEPT where I live (and IL & WI). Can someone please explain how this helps me…..or am I missing something? DT

    • Kkaplan

      Yup – see my comment below. Same thing here in NJ

    • JP

      YOUR RIGHT IT CANT. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE WITH NY,NJ AND CA. AT LEAST IN IL AND WI YOU CAN OPEN CARRY. YES I LIVED IN BOTH STATES. I ALSO LIVED IN SACRAMENTO CA FOR SIX MONTHS, THERE I COULDNT EVEN SHOOT AT THE RANGE CAUSE I DIDNT HAVE A CA PERMIT IT WAS A JOKE.

      • Anonymous

        “We the people” can only change the “May-issue” to “Shall-issue” status of the non-conforming states by being involved more through emailing our/the state senators and so forth.

        I refuse to vacation, conduct business, or visit because of the “Shall-issue” status’ of the non-conforming states. I refuse to spend my hard earned dollars in their state and will continue to voice my opinion, along with many others, in those states until someone listens.

    • USMCGYSGT

      MY UNDERSTANDING IS BY EXAMPLE THAT IF YOU ARE A FL RESIDENT AND YOU HAVE A PERMIT,YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CARY ON ANY STATE AS LONG AS YOU ARE A VISITOR TO THE STATE IF YOU CHANGE YOU RESIDENCE, BY EXAMPLE YOU MOVE TO CALIFORNIA AND THAT IS YOUR NEW STATE FOR RESIDENCE YOUR FL CCWP IS NOT VALID BECAUSE YOU ARE A CA RESIDENT AT THE TIME …

  • Sharkey

    I like the idea of national recognition the same as driver’s license. I hope this goes through as it will make my life simpler when traveling.

  • Varusso3

    I hope our politicians will realize that this is a bill to protect American citizens and put the criminal down. I was in the USAF for 4 years protecting this country and now I am denied the right to protect myself and family.

  • ccwaz

    If this passes, it doesn’t take power away from the States; your State (normally of residence) still has to issue you a carry permit. That is appropriate, since local law enforcement is in a better position than the Feds to know that a certain person is not to be trusted with deadly force, and has the ability to check with the FBI for records they may not have locally. Some additional benefits are that the States that don’t like to issue permits to their residents (“may issue” States) will be pressured even more to issue them, since people visiting from other States may now carry there. California and New York, for example, do issue permits; just not to very many people – only to friends of the governor, or a big city mayor, etc. The only remaining State that doesn’t issue any permits at all, Wisconsin, will be faced with the fact that it is the only one of the fifty that continues to deny all law abiding citizens their 2nd Amendment right to keep & bear arms.

  • USMCGYSGT

    I hope this bill goes trough so Finally i will be able to carry in my mother land of Puerto Rico.

  • Charles

    My question is will this law affect the FEDERAL Gun Free Schools Zone law? An earlier thread stated ‘Reciprocity is already banned” because the FEDERAL Gun Free School Zone Law says says the permit issued must be in the same state as the school to not be in violation of the FEDERAL GFSZ. Will this new law adress this issue? I have read the proposed law and while it seems to, the federal GFSZ is not mentioned specifically.

  • Mrmudzilla

    Reciprocity should have been there in the beginning. Since all of Us had to pass a background check to begin with, as well as to go through the required training to be certified, Our permits should be valid ANYWHERE it is legal within the USA. God bless Our Country.

  • Reggifinger

    Why not make it the same as we do to obtain a driver’s license. Take a course, demonstrate proper use and its done. The states that say they have stricter requirements will be happy.

    • Because a drivers license is a privilege, not a Right.  Keeping and Bearing Arms IS a right.  Keeping means owning, Bearing means carrying, in whatever fashion you choose.

      • Twobanger

        There are millions of people who should not carry firearms, and I am not referring to criminals. An example is a hunter who sprays the forest with bullets because he thinks he saw a deer. I know most of you will disagree with me but there needs to be much stricter training. Yes, I hunt, support the Second Amendment, and carry a pistol.

        • KS

          Amen, TwoBanger.

          Hey, I support the First Amendment and all. I just think that anyone who wants to be a Pastor should be required to undergo State approved religious training, demonstrate sound doctrine, and then be licensed by the State. The world is a different place than it was in 1776, and without careful control you end up with things like the Westboro Baptist Church. At that point, one’s License to Worship (LTW) ought to be respected by all states, just like a driver’s license.

          Remember, I still support the First Amendment. Want proof? Didn’t you see it typed in the first sentence of the previous paragraph? I just want “reasonable” worship laws, that’s all.

      • Lorin

        A driver’s license is an infringement on your property rights to operate your vehicle. It is not a privilege to operate your own property it is a right. The state however builds the roads at provides no other choice but to use them and so then claims that to use their roads you need a license. I say get the state out of the road business and let the road operators decide who can drive on their property and who cannot.

    • tom

      I hear alot of people say this. One has NOTHING to do with the other. Driving is not a right, thus you have to be licenced. Firearms ownership, and carry has never in any way shape or form been something that needed to be licenced on any level….let alone federally

  • Anonymous

    ireally wish the government would get on the same page.i live in mass. and we have a very tough set of laws/rules to follow to get the l.t.c.which i personally had no problem dealing with.but it should be universal in all states.we have to pass afederal standard to get it so it should rec. in all states

  • Wildmangood2000

    All permits should be eligable in other states just like a twic card or a passport, if your a legal law abiding citizen, it seems to me that you would only benefit other states and police by carrying. No criminal wants to take the chance of messing with someone who is ” packing themselves” it is without a doubt,to have a great defense in order to maintain a better offense, support your Second amendment rights!!! voice your opinions!!

  • Semper Fi

    Politicians have killed millions more than armed citizens defending themselves against tyrants. Using their own logic minorities should have to pass a test of political knowledge before voting and everyone purchasing a computer would need to be licensed by the government. Inalienable means cannot be infringed on. Man will not be truly free until the last King is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.

  • Fred

    I’m a criminal, I really don’t care what gun laws you pass!

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