(NewsNation) — President-elect Donald Trump’s promises to sign a nationwide “concealed carry reciprocity” law could soon become reality, and gun violence prevention groups are concerned.
Donald Trump Jr. posted a video of his father on Instagram with the caption: “BOOM! My father just announced full concealed carry reciprocity! The 2nd Amendment will stay and remain protected.”
In the 2023 video, the president-elect outlines his plans to end crime, saying: “I will protect the right of self-defense everywhere it is under siege. And I will sign concealed carry reciprocity. Your Second Amendment does not end at the state line.”
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What is concealed carry reciprocity?
Reciprocity would make it legal for gun owners with concealed carry permits to carry weapons across the nation, even in states that don’t honor out-of-state concealed carry permits.
It’s important to note that current law does permit a law-abiding gun owner to transport guns through states, just not carry or conceal the weapons under their clothing in some states.
Gun safety group Everytown for Gun Safety is concerned that a blanket rule would pose a threat to public safety.
“States set their own standards for having guns and for carrying concealed handguns in public. These standards vary dramatically state-by-state,” the group said. “States also decide which out-of-staters may carry concealed handguns within their borders.”
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The group pointed out how reciprocity would hinder law enforcement’s ability to know who is lawfully carrying a gun, with Everytown’s senior vice president of government affairs Monisha Henley telling ABC News, “Gutting state gun laws just makes it easier for dangerous people to carry a hidden weapon with no training, with no questions asked.”
Trump’s Republican-controlled House passed the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act during his first term in the White House, though it was later scrapped by the Democratic-controlled Senate.
This time around, Republicans control all of Congress, and could likely pass a sweeping reciprocity law.
Current concealed carry reciprocity laws
As of November 2024:
- 29 states allow some form of reciprocity
- 9 don’t honor any out-of-state permits
Click here to access a map showing current reciprocity laws, state-by-state.