Republican Representatives Leonard Lance (NJ-03) and Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Entire Democratic Delegation Join Law Enforcement, Prosecutors and Mayors in Opposing “Concealed Carry Reciprocity”
Reckless Concealed Carry Reciprocity Legislation Would Undermine State Gun Laws, Make it Easy for People With Dangerous Histories and No Training to Carry Hidden, Loaded Handguns in Public; Everytown Interactive Map Shows How it Makes New Jersey Less Safe
TRENTON, N.J. – Volunteers with the New Jersey chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after Representatives Leonard Lance (NJ-07) and Chris Smith (NJ-04) joined the entire New Jersey Democratic delegation in voting against H.R. 38, the disastrous “Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017,” which passed out of the House of Representatives yesterday.
“Concealed carry reciprocity” would override the standards that states have set for who can carry hidden, loaded guns in public. Right now, every state has different standards for who can carry a concealed gun in public. “Concealed carry reciprocity” would not create a national standard for who can carry a hidden, loaded gun in public. Instead, it would force each state to accept the concealed carry standards of every other state, even states that have weaker standards, or worse, no standards at all.
STATEMENT FROM BRETT SABO, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE NEW YORK CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Concealed carry reciprocity is a reckless policy that would gut the common-sense gun laws that make New Jersey a leader in the gun violence prevention movement. I’m so pleased with the bipartisan opposition to ‘concealed carry reciprocity,’ a bill that would eviscerate New Jersey’s gun laws and make it easy for people with dangerous histories and no training to carry hidden, loaded guns across the country. As we begin the fight in the Senate, the New Jersey chapter of Moms Demand Action remains committed to stopping this legislation.”
From our nation’s law enforcement community to mayors, opposition to “concealed carry reciprocity” is widespread. In October, a group of seventeen attorneys general released a letter opposing the policy. The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence, which includes many of the nation’s largest law enforcement organizations, and the bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors have also opposed “concealed carry reciprocity.” A few weeks ago, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys wrote a letter to Congress urging them to oppose “concealed carry reciprocity.”
Additionally, a Pew survey released in June found that 81 percent of Americans oppose allowing people to carry concealed weapons without a permit. “Concealed carry reciprocity” would force states to allow concealed carry by many people with no permit.