U.S.A. –-(AmmoLand.com)- About the same time Washington State’s Department of Licensing was advising Ammoland News that the number of active concealed pistol licenses had hit more than 698,000 on the last day of January, Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) were introducing the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.
Evergreen State CPL numbers had dipped a little more than 1,700 in December, but January saw a nearly identical rebound. By the end of February, if the pattern continues, Washington will reach beyond the 700,000 threshold, which is no small feat for a “blue” state politically. The latest number is 698,186. On Jan. 3, the total had declined to 696,438.
It’s a cinch many of those Evergreen Staters travel to other states, and like the 22 million other licensed concealed carriers, they may want to take their personal protection sidearms along. The Cornyn-Hagerty bill could make that happen if it passes, according to Fox News.
While 45 Republican senators are on board as sponsors or co-sponsors, absent without explanation are Mitt Romney (Utah), Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Rand Paul (Kentucky). Expect gun voters in their states to start asking why.
There is not a single Democrat on the list, not even West Virginia’s Joe Manchin or Montana’s Jon Tester.
The bill had not yet been given a number when Ammoland received a copy from Cornyn’s office. It’s a five-page document that arrived 21 days after Congressman Richard Hudson reintroduced HR 38, dubbed the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which he has introduced in the past. In December 2017, that bill was passed by the House, then under Republican control. But it went to the Senate, where Mitch McConnell was then majority leader, and it gathered dust, despite indications from then-President Donald Trump he would sign.
This time around, McConnell is on board as a co-sponsor, along with Senate Minority Whip John Thune (S.D.) and most of their colleagues. Here’s the rest of the roster:
Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Barrasso (R-WY), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), John Boozman (R-AR), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Ted Budd (R-NC), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Todd Young (R-IN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Mike Braun (R-IN), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Roger Wicker (R-MS), James Risch (R-ID), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Steve Daines (R-MT), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK).
Three major national gun rights organizations have thrown their weight behind the legislation. The National Rifle Association, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and National Shooting Sports Foundation were quick to support the bill.
It may be important to explain what the bill won’t do in order to head off efforts by anti-gunners to stop this bill using misinformation and hysteria. It doesn’t endanger any state’s carry laws.
The bill “Protects state sovereignty by not establishing a national standard for concealed carry,” according to Cornyn’s office.
In addition, the senator’s news release continued, the bill “Allows individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state with concealed carry laws.”
Lastly, and perhaps the most important point, the bill “Treats state-issued concealed carry permits like drivers’ licenses where an individual can use their home-state license to drive in another state, but must abide by that other state’s speed limit or road laws.”
Translation: This bill does not make it impossible for states to enforce their own laws if someone from another state misbehaves.
As noted by CCRKBA’s Alan Gottlieb in a news release, “The last time a national reciprocity bill was introduced…the gun prohibition lobby and Capitol Hill anti-gunners flat-out lied about what it would do, and not do. Wild claims that reciprocity would force states to not enforce their own laws ran rampant, as did the specious argument that the federal government would adopt a single weak standard everyone would have to follow.
“That experience reminded us how anti-gunners will say literally anything to prevent law-abiding Americans from being able to exercise their right to bear arms, and to defend themselves, while traveling,” Gottlieb added. “It’s time for national reciprocity to become the law of the land, and we hope American gun owners will keep an eye on this legislation.”
Backers of the legislation all concur on one important point beyond any others: Nobody should leave his or her right to bear arms or the right of self-defense at the border of their home state.
Now there are probably long odds against this bill passing through Congress, same as Hudson’s HR 38, because Democrats control the Senate and perennial anti-gunner Joe Biden controls the veto pen. Yet, it puts the gun prohibition lobby on edge that such a bill is even being considered. Perhaps there’s a small victory in that.
And, with the likelihood growing that Florida will adopt permitless “Constitutional” carry sometime this year, anti-gunners may be getting the sense they are losing ground as the courts—following the Bruen ruling of 2022—are at least trying to adhere to the Supreme Court’s new formula for deciding Second Amendment cases.
Laws passed by anti-gun states such as Illinois, New York, California, and New Jersey are challenged almost before the ink is dry. Restrictions added in Oregon and Washington are hit with multiple legal actions.
Perhaps the Cornyn-Hagerty is an important shot across the Democrats’ bow, signaling that the days of the gun control juggernaut are coming to an end.
About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
So Cornyn, who voted for Biden’s Gun Control bill last year, now proposes a bill that has no chance of clearing a filibuster vote in the Senate. Mitch McConnell, who refused to bring a similar bill to the floor for a vote when Rep. controlled the House, Senate, and White House, signs on to support a bill he knows will fail. Why didn’t Cornyn and the other Rep. who voted for the Biden Gun Control bill demand reciprocity before they voted for it? This is theater plain and simple and they should not get praise for it. Shame on you… Read more »
If it did stand a chance of passing, the RINO Cornyn would probably vote against his own bill. Why won’t Texas get a strong 2A candidate to run against him? As for Rand Paul, you don’t have to cosponsor a bill to support it. It would be a major disappointment for his Kentucky constituents if he didn’t.
Cornyn is A RINO and, I vote for someone else in every primary. Since he’s been winning, I have to vote for him over the demonRat candidate. He’s still better than any of them. One day, we’ll be able to replace him with someone better.
Cronyn is A POS!!!
Don’t make me laugh!!!!
It’s a trap!!!! This is all about funding for the gop after the treason of the budget bill and all the gun control carve outs they keep going along with AND WITH NO INTENT TO PERFORM.
Fusk those traitor bastards. There is NO INTENT. There was NEVER ANY INTENT……THIS IS GRANDSTANDING BS by the traitors from the washington generals to get your contributions and forgiveness for all the treason we continually suffer at their hands.
cornyn is a particularly fedit POS!!!!!!
YES! He is a RINO and also a RepubliCANT! This “bill” is all THEATRICS, SMOKE AND MIRRORS! McConnell, married to a CCP shipping mogul’s daughter, MUST be EXORCISED!
McConnel is A POS also!!
That is not a blood type, is it?
And the divorce draws closer. Does any NORMAL American believe we can continue on with the country this divided? DC is broken and cannot be fixed
I am a disabled patriotic American who is on oxygen continuously and will stand my ground at home and with my pen and voice also.
I am so sick in health but even more so of this so called government and those who lie about representing us and obeying the constitution.
Every member of congress who does not abide and truly believe in the constitution is flat out going to hell when they die because they will have to answer to God not me or anyone else.
I listen to Uncensored Tactical from time to time, and while I do not subscribe to the more anarchist viewpoints of the host(s) I do like the term one of them uses, post-politics.
Roughly paraphrased: Neither side of politics cares about the people. Neither side cares about your opinions, really. Your votes don’t really change things/matter. Because of that, look to your own.
Self-sufficient, self-defense, self-governing.
Yeah, sounds a little self-ish too, but I think it sums up what many of us feel.
Watch Um, a fight always needs Comms to function. Don’t deprecate your keyboarding skills and abilities!
Change the last three words to; “MUST BE FIXED” and then I can TOTALLY AGREE with your comment!
I as a Legal Law Abiding American Citizen am SO TIRED, FRUSTRATED and ANGERED by the ANTICS of the Democrats, DemoKKKrats, Republicans and the RepubliCANTS! GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER and HONOR your SWORN OATH-OF-OFFICE, to defend America/Americans from ENEMIES – BOTH Foreign and, as of lately, DOMESTIC. Pass the CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY, as DRIVER’S LICENSES are honored country wide, so American Citizens, and LEGAL Foreigners, can PROTECT their CHILDREN, where ever they are, from CRIMINALS who are WANTON to harm INNOCENT People! GET RID of the TARGET ENRICHED “gun free zones”!!!!
Two things about that balloon if it IS actually there? Joe said shoot it down and the military said NO. That being said, if it is really there, how do we know it is from China? Could just be another false flag from the guvernment trying to give us something else to worry about instead of what they are NOT doing with Hunter and his brain dead dad? Inquiring minds want to know. BTW, what is all this stuff about us spending a lot of money on bringing any of our firearms up to snuff as far as the ATF… Read more »
Well, I think we have much more to lose than complying with an illegal edict written by a division of the executive branch that seems to have decided that they can write laws without the consent of the governed. The choice or alternative to this BS is to ignore it until the federal judges determine that it is against the 2nd Amendment, which of course, we all already know that it is. This whole thing is exactly like the bump stock ban that has already been overturned so far, and just like the short barreled rifle needing a tax stamp… Read more »
You are wrong about the pussies being the only ones left behind. There will still be the ex military and able bodied me and women that aren’t of age to go to war. And some old guys with the will to fight for our rights.
Well, the balloon is there. Why haven’t we shot it down yet like in Montana where there are lots of places where people aren’t. My latest ruse is: They don’t want it to be shot down anywhere where they might not be the first ones to get to it. We might just find out the only thing about that balloon that has anything to do with the CCP might be that all the parts on it say made in China……orrrr ??
Marriage, not addressed in the constitution, much like driving privileges are not specifically addressed are seen as things to be recognized and protected among the several states.
If I am not mistaken (and am open to correction) the only constitutionally addressed right not protected across the states…is the second.
The more I see people believing the govt is “giving us a right” that is already protect under the constitution I see the Constitution burn a little hotter from the flames American’s are burning up their own protected natural rights. We already have these rights. The constitution is designed to stop govt from “Infringing” on those rights. Yet, we are trying to pass more laws that show we believe govts are giving us our rights. This is wrong headed and the wrong approach. Both parties are doing this. We have allowed govt to dictate what natural right we are allowed… Read more »
I share your opinion of Cocaine Mitch, and we probably mirror each other’s political ideology and we both are oppressed brothers at the State level. I am going to withhold any opinion about Cocaine Mitch’ motivation with this bill until we see clearly what his motivation is. Even with all the GOPe crap this Turtle lookalike bastard has rolled into little balls decade after decade, I am still very, very respectful to him for bottling up that little megalomaniac mendacious reprobate Merrick Garland from being a member of the Supreme’s and the yeoman’s work he did filling the Federal benches… Read more »
Three words about Alaska and murkowski. Ranked choice voting.
The Constitution gives me the RIGHT not any over paid politician!!!
What??
No, the right is a natural one. The Bill of Rights amendments to the Constitution are merely intended to protect those rights against the machinations of “overpaid politicians.” They’re not really overpaid, just over compensated through graft and insider trading.
This bill is trash and if you need more proof of that, besides what’s in it and the fact that it takes multiple pages to say states have to honor other states licenses, then just look at what Cornyn has written and voted for in the past 20 years. He wrote the gun control bill passed in 2018 known as FixNICS and he also voted for the gun control passed last year. He also said he believes no one should be selling guns without a license. If any of these Butters/Fudds supported the 2A, they would be writing a bill… Read more »
On last comment before I take my medicine for my health. I dare any members of congress that has the guts to do so stand before the House and Senate and read my other comment.
Over a long observation there has been any number of bills
that republicans have signed on for, ONLY because they know it will fail.
The “show” vote is then marketed as proof of fidelity to the constituents.
All of these bills are just peeing up a rope until we get a president in office who will sign them.
Sometimes I think mediocre congress people propose and sometimes pass things like this when they KNOW they can’t get them signed, then drag their feet when it’s a real possibility.
Why would Rand Paul not support this?
Nothing on his Twitter or his web page other than “I support the Second Amendment”. But???
I’ve noticed lately that Mr Cornyn has only supported gun control when it’s hidden in other things. He, if that is his preferred pronoun, is learning he’s disapproved of by, in his words, the “mob”, but hasn’t changed. (link cite in next post)
Cite from Mr Cornyn calling Texas Republican delegates a ‘mob’.
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2022/06/20/after-cornyn-blames-jeers-at-texas-gop-on-mob-gun-rights-group-demands-apology/