Update on National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act

Here’s the latest on the National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act courtesy of The Truth About Guns.com:

Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC), the primary sponsor of the National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act that was introduced last week into the House, has clarified that the Act should apply to state firearms licenses issued to non-residents.

In an statement to the Free Beacon this week, Mr. Hudson was quoted: “My legislative intent is to ensure a non-resident carry permit is recognized, and I’ve confirmed this with legislative counsel and Judiciary Committee staff.”

Courts will sometimes turn to the intent of the drafters of a law if they find the language of the law itself unclear. (For an example of when they don’t, however, see the Court’s 2012 Obamacare decision, where it found that a tax existed where no intent to impose one was ever expressed.)

So let’s take a look at the Bill as it stands today: does it suggest anything about firearms licenses issued to non-residents?

Here’s the relevant text:

“[A] person who is not prohibited by Federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm, who is carrying a valid identification document containing a photograph of the person, and who is carrying a valid license or permit which is issued pursuant to the law of a State and which permits the person to carry a concealed firearm or is entitled to carry a concealed firearm in the State in which the person resides, may possess or carry a concealed handgun (other than a machinegun or destructive device) that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce….”

The text says “a State”. It doesn’t say “State of residence” or “his/her home State” or anything else along those lines. Looks clear to me…although do me a solid, Rep. Hudson, and get that statement of intent into the Congressional Record when you can.

As a reminder, Congresscritters like hearing the opinions of their constituents on pending bills, so if you like this Bill, you and twenty of your closest gun owning friends might want to let them know.

Utah does not require qualifying non-resident Concealed Firearms Permit applicants to hold a carry license from their home state if their home state does not recognize the validity of a Utah license. Arizona, on the other hand, will issue a license to qualifying individuals who are either Arizona residents or U.S. Citizens, with no home state license requirement. (“Qualifying” meaning people who aren’t legally prohibited due to past criminal, mental health issues, illegal immigrant status, and so on.)

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E.J. Smith - Your Survival Guy

Preparing your investments and family for when disaster strikes.

E.J. Smith is the Founder of YourSurvivalGuy.com, Managing Director at Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd., a Managing Editor of Richardcyoung.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Youngresearch.com. E.J. graduated from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in finance and investments. In 1995, E.J. began his investment career at Fidelity Investments in Boston before joining Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. in 1998. E.J. has trained at Sig Sauer Academy in Epping, NH, where he completed course-work in Practical and Defensive Handgun, Conceal Carry Pistol, Shotguns, Precision Scope Rifle and Kidnapping Prevention. E.J. plays a Yamaha Recording Custom drum set with Zilldjian cymbals. His first drum set was a 5-piece Slingerland with Zilldjians. He grew-up worshiping Neil Peart of the band Rush, and loves the song Tom Sawyer—the name of his family’s boat, a Grady-White Canyon 306. He grew up in Mattapoisett, MA, an idyllic small town on the water near Cape Cod. He spends time in Newport, RI and Bartlett, NH—both as far away from Wall Street as one could mentally get. The Newport office is on a quiet, tree lined street not far from the harbor and the log cabin in Bartlett, NH, the “Live Free or Die” state, sits on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. He enjoys spending time in Key West and Paris. Please get in touch with E.J. at ejsmith@youngresearch.com. Sign up here to receive all the best content from Richardcyoung.com each week.