Florida Senator Ashley Moody has thrown her support behind the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (S. 65), cosponsoring the legislation that aims to allow individuals with valid concealed carry permits in their home state to legally carry a concealed handgun in any other state that permits concealed carry, provided they abide by that state’s specific laws.
The bill, introduced in the 119th Congress, seeks to treat state-issued concealed carry permits similarly to how driver’s licenses are honored across state lines.
Under the proposed act, a permit holder from one state could exercise their concealed carry rights in another, following the laws of the state they are visiting, without establishing a new national standard for permits.
Senator Moody articulated her reasoning for cosponsorship, stating, “It makes no sense that we allow state lines to infringe on citizens’ rights to bear arms. I’m proud to cosponsor the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act and ensure individuals with concealed carry privileges can exercise those rights across state lines. This commonsense legislation will cut down arbitrary barriers and uphold Americans’ rights to keep and bear arms.”
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Aims of the Legislation
The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act has three core objectives:
- Interstate Recognition: To allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to carry a concealed handgun in any other state with concealed carry laws.
- Driver’s License Model: To treat state-issued concealed carry permits like drivers’ licenses, where an individual uses their home-state license but must obey the road laws of the state they are traveling in.
- Protection of State Sovereignty: To ensure the legislation does not establish a national standard for concealed carry, thus preserving the authority of individual states to set their own criteria for issuing permits.
Broad Bipartisan Support and Endorsements
The legislation, initially introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), has garnered significant support within the Senate, boasting nearly 50 cosponsors from various states, including Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Rick Scott (R-FL), among many others.
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In addition to the extensive list of senatorial cosponsors, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act is endorsed by major Second Amendment advocacy groups, including the National Rifle Association (NRA), the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and Gun Owners of America (GOA). The endorsements highlight the bill’s importance to gun rights organizations seeking to eliminate state-by-state variations in carrying laws for legal permit holders.
The bill has been read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary for further consideration. If enacted, the amendments would take effect 90 days after the date of enactment.
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