National Reciprocity Bill in Senate: What are the Prospects?

By Dean Weingarten

 

Dean Weingarten
Dean Weingarten

Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)-On Saturday, 25 February, 2017, Senator John Cornyn (R) Texas announced that he will introduce the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act in the Senate this week.  From the dailycaller.com:

Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn announced Saturday at the general meeting of the Texas State Rifle Association in Austin that he will introduce the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act in the upper chamber next week.

The bill is said to mirror H.R. 38, in the House of Representatives.

A similar national reciprocity bill was put forward by Senator Cornyn in 2013. It came within 3 votes of overcoming the Senate fillibuster.  57 senators voted for it, 43 against it.  After the 2016 election, that number should have switched to 58, assuming that all Republicans vote for the bill, and all Democrats who voter for it before will still vote for it.  The Democrats who voted for it in 2013 are:

Joe Donnelly of Indiana

Jon Tester of Montana

Tom Udall of New Mexico

Martin Heinrich of New Mexico

Mark Warner of Virginia

Joe Manchin of West Virginia

Those senators are all still in office.

33 senators voted against it, and are still in office. The turnover of 10 senators who voted against the bill from 2013 to2017,  only switches one vote with clarity.  Of the 33 who are still in office, five are up for election in 2018, in states that Trump won.  Those five senators are from states with large numbers of concealed carry permits. One, Missouri, is now a Constitutional carry state, which means that everyone who votes in Missouri, over the age of 20, is now a potential legal gun carrier.  The numbers of permit holders in those states has increased from those listed below:

Bill Nelson, Florida Over – 1,400,000 resident permits in Florida.  All are voters.

Claire McCaskill, Missouri – Over 171,000 permits, potentially all voters over 20.

Sherrod Brown, Ohio Over – 574,000 permits in Ohio. All are voters.

Bob Casey, Pennsylvania Over – 1,000,000 permits in the state. All are voters.

Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin, over 240,000 permits in the state. All are voters.

It is reasonable to believe that in 2013, the Obama administration lobbied hard against the national reciprocity bill.  In 2017, it is reasonable to believe that the Trump administration will lobby hard in favor of it.  National reciprocity was one of the pillars of the Donald Trump campaign.

Will they be able to switch two votes to overcome the 60 vote filibuster barrier? It looks to be eminently plausible.

The only reason to vote against the bill is purely ideological. Why would Senator Bill Nelson of Florida want to prevent 1.4 million voters in his state from being able to carry in other states?  Permit holders from other states can already carry in Florida. The same is true in Ohio, Missouri, and Wisconsin. Pennsylvania honors permits from 25 other states.

Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin is an extreme ideologue.  I do not expect her to switch.  I am not so certain about the other four.  Perhaps readers with more information can comment on Bill Nelson, Claire McCaskill, Sherrod Brown,and Bob Casey.

Only two senators have to flip to pass national reciprocity over the 60 vote filibuster barrier.

I predict that we will obtain national reciprocity under the Trump administration.

©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.

Link to Gun Watch

About Dean Weingarten;

Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

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Jerome King

Jerome says hello to all, I live in the state of NJ, in which everyone knows of our tough gun laws. However, I do have a NJ FID card, and also have six non resident permits from NH, CT, FL, AZ, Utah, and Maine. My NH., permit allows me to carry in PA., so all together and can carry in a total of 37 states, but it is still a crap shoot because of all the different state laws, so I welcome the passing of hr38, this will help me as a law abiding citizen not to become a felon.… Read more »

Mark Gander

Good morning I live Paris, TN. I and my family are avid gun enthusiasts and all carry legally of course with permits. Living in TN everyone has fire arms pretty normal here. I hope someday that they see the light someday and grant us our God given right to bear arms for protection and to enjoy our hobby of fire arms. I travel north a lot to NY and feel cheated that the moment I pass certain state borders my rights are violated and I am unable to protect myself and others. I truly believe that if the reciprocity bill… Read more »

Walt Giletta, US Armed Forces, Retired

Thanks I’m a former NYC resident and a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment.. It’s amazing to observe “Gun Free Zones” attracting cowardly vermin that shoot up schools and other zones while the response is so terribly slow. ELIMINATING Gun Free Zones and allowing teachers and parents access to free shoot locations will make the cowards go somewhere else where their odds at quick termination will be improved. THANKS FOR SPEAKING FOR A CONSTITUTION AMERICA..

Pedro A. Castillo

I live in Texas. On 01 Jan2016, Gov Greg Abbot signed into law the Open Carry. Giving us Texans the right to carry openly. You should see the looks of state troopers, deputies and the like when a citizen like myself is carrying (open) in a holster my favorite 1911 .38 Super with two extra mags. they look in disfelif like saying to themselves ” we can look, but we can’t touch” I had a comment by one of them that came to my table at Jack in the Box and said he liked my 1911.

Bob Stine

I live in Pa. and have been a gun enthusiast for a half a century. I have a CCW permit and support the NRA and national reciprocity. I really am not sure how effective it will be when passed and I will tell you why. My permit states that I can carry in the state of Pa. anywhere but those areas that it is illegal to IE schools, government buildings etc. But guess what. If I carry in Philadelphia, which I believe is still in Pa. I will have my weapon taken and possibly be arrested for being a lawful… Read more »

Felix

If they vote no you vote them out

Mark Gander

Mark Gander Paris, TN Land of the free It wont be long looks like the bill will pass. Long overdue. A shame that someone can dictate how one protects himself. At least in TN our state gives us the right to bear arms. Most of us like myself carry our weapons at all times. I find it to be a privilege to carry one. I consider myself to be a extremely trained individual with all handguns and rifles alike. Our family has our own range at which we practice and run tactical drills in case and emergency may come about.… Read more »

nelson

The Anit-gun states brought this on themselves, and I agree there are hypocrites on both sides of the argument. The anti-gunner’s truly believe the only reason their unconstitutional laws don’t work is because of gun friendly states, next part gets good, so they take the position since those states are the problem the federal govt needs to step in. What about states rights? So not the tables are turned they’re crying states rights you can’t state rights. X amendment, The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to… Read more »

Stephen P. Sacco

Just to dispel a common notion, NOT ALL of us residing in The People’s Republic of New York State, are “Anti-Gun”! I have been a firearm enthusiast, since my days in the Boy Scouts (where incidentally, I was taught the CORRECT & SAFE handling of firearms), and through my interest in anything “gun-related”, have over the years, met MANY gun enthusiasts here in NY State. I also happen to live in Westchester County, .. very near the “belly of the beast” (NY City), and can tell you first-hand, that I’m FAR FROM being alone here, in my love if guns.… Read more »

Steve

To my friends in the Communist states of NJ,NY, HI, etc (With my sympathies!) Look, there is only so much the federal government can do to override the stupidity of your communist utopias! Reciprocity protects the rights of those from states that have actually read the constitution from illegal arrest in the fetid cesspools that almost universally have ridiculous gun laws! Don’t like it? vote them out! Call for recalls, protest their town halls whatever! That seems to be the tack of the liberal left right now and do you know why? Because they’re losing and they know it! States… Read more »

John

Most of the counties of New York votes for gun rights but the problem is NYC. They over whelm the votes by 11 to 1 democrats. Lord knows I try but the liberal media here in NY let these senators lie about anything and not fact check them when it comes to guns. They bring up illegal gun violence into the mix when we are talking about law abiding citizens. Most of NYC is clueless about firearms and are told if you have a gun then you must be a bad person.

ron magid

I am a resident of NJ and I WISH the draconian gun laws of my state be overridden by a Federal law that allows me to carry. There is no legal path to concealed carry in the people’s republic of NJ. that MUST change, or overridden by a federal law.

Terry

It still may not till “18” as the left keep shooting themselves in their own feet and more of them get replaced. And we can’t forget the RINOs that hate Trump, we can not count on all the votes from the right as they will vote against Trump on anything!

Snorpht FingerPoot

MIke, if they do charge you to make a point ou can sue for infringement of you constitutional rights in Fed court.

Bingo………….. there’s you’re $3M house boat and Ferrari

with the financial shape Ca is in they won’t try it too many times

Mike Murray

Even if this passes, how many will be arrested and charged in CA, NY, NJ, MA, or CT anyway, just to make a point? Isn’t it interesting how those who are for and against State’s Rights will flip-flop and pick and choose which side of a given issue they are on, based on convenience? Abortion, gun rights, 1st Amendment, immigration, marijuana, voter ID, right to work, gay marriage, what a bunch of hypocrites on both sides. The courts and the citizens are willing twist the 10th Amendment and Article 4 Section 1 to suit their particular agenda’s, with no consistency… Read more »

FB

I posted a link to the bill here however I think it needs to be approved before the official posting. Hopefully it will make it through soon. As mentioned in my original post, the Senator Cornyn ‘‘Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017’’ bill currently does not mirror Senator Hundson’s H.R 38. The general consensus below was captured from the “truth about guns” site. (1) Constitutional Carry residents need a license. There’s no safe harbor for Constitutional Carry in the Senate bill. If you’re a resident of a Constitutional Carry state, and you want to carry in a different state,… Read more »

Fb

You can read the bill here. https://freebeacon.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/ALB17194.pdf S.466 bill currently does not mirror h.r 38. The general consensus is the follow grabbed from “truth about guns” site. (1) Constitutional Carry residents need a license. There’s no safe harbor for Constitutional Carry in the Senate bill. If you’re a resident of a Constitutional Carry state, and you want to carry in a different state, you do have to get a license. Now, it doesn’t require those residents to obtain a license from their home state –residents of the original Constitutional Carry state, Vermont, will be okay if they get a license… Read more »

Fredy

Fb,

So what you are saying in your post, is that all visitors to New Jersey with a CCW from another state will have the legal right to carry in New Jersey, but the law abiding citizens of the state who have a Florida or Utah CCW, CAN NOT carry in NJ..?

We’re not sure President Trump, who has stated, “that our 2nd amendment rights to defend ourselves should not stop at the end of our driveways” would actually sign such a stupid bill into law…

Eric_CA

Agree! S. 446 Does NOT mirror H.R. 38! Hudson’s House bill, HR 38 is by far a more superior Reciprocity bill!

Jack

Fortunately, you’re wrong. This bill recognizes the right to carry weapons without a permit if an individual resides in CCS. This document establishes that a person must either 1) have a CCW or 2) be entitled and not prohibited from CC in the State in which the individual resides otherwise than as described in paragraph (1). So if your home state does not prohibit unlicensed CC, you can carry without a permit in any other state. However, photographic ID is required anyway.

Joe

Hi,
Question if passed(about time) how will this affect permit holders from other states who live in in New Jersey?
You should not even need a permit for a right granted by our constitution.

Stocks

Agreed that the 2A should be all the permission we need but…

The Constitution does not grant us the right. God grants it. The Constitution affirms that God-given right.

Fredy

Joe,

We too live in the totally corrupted liberal state of New Jersey and your question is valid. WHEN not ‘if’ this reciprocity law is passed, can you imagine a situation where every visitor to the state of New Jersey can legally carrier, BUT NOT THE RESIDENTS.

We would hope KNOW that the Trump administration will go after states like NJ, NY, CA and CT… and withhold federal grant monies or some other form of penalty, as they will with do against the sanctuary cities, should they ignor the law…

Jim Macklin

The bills language seem to indicate that NJ, CA, HI, and other “no issue, no reciprocity state residents” can get a Florida license and carry at home and all other states.
I hope they include public areas in Post Offices, school zones need to honor reciprocity, too.

David C. Telliho

I don`t care anymore, what restrictive or permissive laws are passed regarding gun control. I carry concealed anyway. My purpose is for self and family protection. No mealy mouthed politician can tell me I don`t have that right. The rest of you do as you deem right. I`ll keep my gun and carry it too.

Geo

Good Luck with that! I used to feel that way too, but if you have to use it and don’t have that little card?- you are screwed, and probably for the rest of your LIFE!

Jim S

Im with David. If you need it and you dont have it you are screwed. Stay out of trouble and law enforcement will leave you alone.

Guit

There was a case recently of someone in my State that used a gun for self defense (no one was injured or killed) and he was not old enough to even own a handgun. They could not prove that he DIDN’T use it in self defense so they decided to let him off of the gun charge etc. I think he was eventually charged with another misdemeanor or something unrelated. He claimed that people were threatening him so he chose to carry a gun for protection. I’m sure this won’t work in all cases though. Good luck to all and… Read more »

Jeff Dege

If you find yourself in a situation where you wouldn’t think that going to jail was a reasonable trade-off to allowing the perp to continue his actions, you shouldn’t be shooting in the first place.

David Telliho

That`s why you carry a revolver. N0 shell cases left around.

Scott chilcote

I’m with David. I have always carried, regardless of the state laws. Just having it, and allowing miscreants to know it has kept me from being a statistic many times. Having the ability is what is important.

Parnell

There’s always the Nuclear Option.