Seventeen Attorneys General Released a Letter Opposing “Concealed Carry Reciprocity,” Including Pennsylvania State Attorney Josh Shapiro
Law Enforcement Organizations Making up the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence and Bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors Have Also Opposed “Concealed Carry Reciprocity”
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Volunteers with the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released the following statement today, applauding Attorney General Josh Shapiro for joining a group of seventeen attorneys general in opposing “concealed carry reciprocity” in a letter to Congress released today.
The letter, signed by attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and the District of Columbia states in part that, “Rather than creating a new national standard for who may carry concealed firearms, these bills would elevate the lowest state standard over higher ones and force some States to allow concealed carry by people who do not qualify under their laws. … We fear that, if enacted, these bills inevitable will lead to the death of police officers and civilians, the proliferation of gun traffickers, and acts of terrorism and other mass violence.”
Learn more about concealed carry reciprocity here.
STATEMENT FROM DEB MARTESLO, VOLUNTEER WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“We applaud Attorney General Josh Shapiro for standing up for all Pennsylvanians by opposing ‘concealed carry reciprocity.’ This dangerous legislation would force Pennsylvania to accept the concealed carry standards of every other state, no matter how weak or nonexistent they are. We deserve better than this, and so do all Americans across the country. The Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action will stand with gun sense champions like Attorney General Shapiro, law enforcement and our mayors and continue to fight back against proposals that would leave our families at greater risk for gun violence.”
“Concealed carry reciprocity” would force every state to accept the concealed carry standards of every other state, including states with much weaker or nonexistent standards. Pennsylvania doesn’t allow convicted stalkers to concealed carry, and enables law enforcement to block concealed carry by people with dangerous red flags in their history, such as domestic disturbances or assault arrests. However, 22 states allow convicted stalkers to carry, and 25 states do not allow law enforcement to block carry based on dangerous red flags. For example, Pennsylvania’s neighbor, West Virginia, allows convicted stalkers to carry, does not allow law enforcement to block carry by people with dangerous red flags, and in fact, does not require any permit at all. Under concealed carry reciprocity, people in a dozen states that don’t even require permits for a person to concealed carry could carry hidden, loaded guns in Pennsylvania, and in all 50 states.
Under current law, every state determines its own standards for concealed carry, and no state should be forced to allow people to carry concealed handguns who otherwise do not meet the standards they have set for themselves.
Since the mass shooting in Las Vegas, the gun lobby has opposed legislation to improve our gun laws, and has instead repeatedly called for Congress to pass its top priority, “concealed carry reciprocity.”