Republican Representatives Costello (PA-06), Meehan (PA-07), Fitzpatrick (PA-08); Democratic Representatives Join the Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, 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 Pennsylvania Less Safe
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Volunteers with the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement after Reps. Costello (PA-06), Meehan (PA-07) and Fitzpatrick (PA-08) voted against H.R. 38, the disastrous “Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017,” which passed out of the House of Representatives today.
Concealed Carry Reciprocity would force each state to accept the concealed carry standards of every other state, including states with weaker standards or no standards at all. Pennsylvania doesn’t allow convicted stalkers to concealed carry, and gives law enforcement the authority to block concealed carry by people with dangerous red flags in their histories, such as domestic disturbances or assault arrests. However, 22 states allow convicted stalkers to carry concealed guns, and 25 states do not allow law enforcement to block carry based on dangerous red flags. For example, Pennsylvania’s neighbor, West Virginia, does not block convicted stalkers, does not give law enforcement authority to block carry by people with dangerous red flags, and in fact, does not even require a permit at all. Under concealed carry reciprocity, residents of the twelve states that don’t require concealed carry permits would be allowed to carry hidden, loaded guns without a permit in Pennsylvania and in all 50 states.
STATEMENT FROM DEB MARTESLO, VOLUNTEER WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“The Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action applauds Reps. Costello, Meehan and Fitzpatrick for standing up for the safety of their communities and voting against ‘concealed carry reciprocity,’ a bill that would gut Pennsylvania’s gun laws and make all of us less safe. The Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action will continue to fight back against this legislation and hold our elected officials in the Senate accountable.”
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.