Peace Garden News

Senator John Hoeven has played a role in introducing the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. This legislation, sponsored by Senator John Cornyn of Texas, aims to allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state that permits concealed carry. The bill is designed to respect state sovereignty by not creating a national standard for concealed carry. Instead, it treats concealed-carry permits like state-issued drivers’ licenses, enabling them to be used across state lines while requiring adherence to each state's laws.

"This legislation empowers law-abiding citizens to more freely exercise their Second Amendment rights when traveling across state lines," said Senator Hoeven. "Under our bill, individuals that have been granted a concealed carry permit in their home state will be able to use that permit in any other state that allows concealed carry, making it easier to travel while still respecting laws passed on the state level."

Senator Cornyn expressed similar sentiments: "The Lone Star State has long championed our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, and gun owners in Texas and across the country should not have that fundamental right violated when they cross state lines. This legislation would reduce unnecessary burdens for law-abiding citizens and allow them to carry a concealed firearm in every state that permits it, and I’m grateful for the overwhelming support from my fellow Republican colleagues on this commonsense bill."

In addition to Cornyn and Hoeven, several other senators are cosponsoring the legislation. These include Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Mike Lee (R-UT), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Jim Risch (R-ID), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rick Scott (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Katie Britt (R-AL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ted Budd (R-NC), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), John Kennedy (R-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines(R-MT) , Eric Schmitt(R-MO) , Todd Young(R-IN) , Dan Sullivan(R-AK) , John Barrasso(R-WY) , Jim Banks(R-IN) , Tim Scott(R-SC) , Bernie Moreno(R-OH) , Deb Fischer(R-NE) , Jerry Moran(R-KS) , Mike Rounds(R-SD) , John Curtis(R-UT) , John Boozman(R-AR) , Joni Ernst(R-IA) , Roger Wicker(R-MS) , Markwayne Mullin(R-OK) and Shelley Moore Capito(R-WV).

The National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and Gun Owners of America endorse this piece of legislation.