Right to Carry Reciprocity

Dana Mathewson

There has been a good deal of controversy about this effort, which has passed the House. Opponents of the bill worry that the lowest standards will rule. However, the following indicates that the rules in force by the state in which the particular carrier is traveling will be in force for that person. See below:

"This week the House passed by a 272-154 vote H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act. The bipartisan bill allows concealed carry permit holders to carry concealed handguns in any of the 49 states that currently have such laws. Illinois is the lone state that prohibits the Second Amendment within its borders. Introduced by Reps. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and Heath Shuler (D-NC), the legislation has predictably come under fire from anti-Second Amendment zealots who claim that all states would have to abide by the laws of the least restrictive states. However, the bill specifically requires permit holders to abide by the restrictions of the state in which they are traveling. It merely offers reciprocity much the same way drivers' licenses do from one state to the next. That doesn't mean there aren't federalism questions, though, and in particular, it's ironic that this has the opposite effect of the Defense of Marriage Act, which specifically exempts states from having to honor each others' licenses." -- from The Patriot Post