S. 214 - Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2023

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2023 (S. 214) was reintroduced on January 10, 2025, in the U.S. Senate by Senator John Cornyn and a group of Republican colleagues, including Bill Cassidy, Ted Cruz, and others. The bill is designed to allow individuals with valid concealed carry permits to carry concealed firearms across state lines, making it easier for gun owners to exercise their Second Amendment rights while traveling.

Reciprocity for Concealed Carry:
The bill permits individuals who are legally allowed to possess firearms and hold a valid concealed carry permit to carry concealed handguns (excluding machine guns or destructive devices) in any state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms or does not prohibit concealed carry. This provision treats concealed carry permits like driver’s licenses: just as you can drive in another state with your home-state license but must follow local traffic rules, you can carry a concealed firearm in another state but must adhere to that state’s specific gun laws.

Conditions and Limitations:
Those carrying concealed firearms under this law must follow the same conditions and limitations as residents of the state where they are carrying the firearm, except for eligibility to possess or carry. Individuals must carry a government-issued photo ID and a valid concealed carry permit when carrying across state lines.

Unrestricted Permits:
If a state imposes restrictions on its residents’ concealed carry permits, those carrying under this law can only carry according to the same terms that would apply to a resident with an unrestricted permit in that state.

No Preemption of State Laws:
The bill does not override state laws related to issuing concealed carry permits or licenses. It allows for interstate recognition of valid concealed carry permits, while respecting states’ rights to regulate their own laws concerning concealed carry.

Effective Date:
The provisions of the bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.

Severability:
If any part of the bill is found to be unconstitutional, the rest of the law and its provisions will remain intact. Purpose and Support: This bill aims to reduce confusion and legal barriers for law-abiding gun owners by creating consistency across states, making it easier for them to travel without facing conflicting concealed carry laws. It has broad support from pro-gun organizations such as the National Rifle Association (NRA), National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and Gun Owners of America (GOA). While the bill makes it easier for concealed carry permit holders to travel across state lines, it does not create a national standard for concealed carry laws, allowing each state to maintain control over its own regulations.

The legislation is designed to support responsible gun owners, ensuring they can exercise their Second Amendment rights while traveling without facing a patchwork of inconsistent state laws.

U.S. Concealed Carry Association "The USCCA Statement on Senate Introduction of Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act." US Concealed Carry Association, 10 Jan. 2023
Congress.gov. "S. 214 Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2023." 118th Congress (2023-2024)