Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act

The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, later the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, is a bill that would amend Title 18 of the United States Code to require all U.S. states to recognize concealed carry permits granted by other states. It would also allow the concealed transport of handguns across state lines, so long as it is allowed by both states and would amend the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 to allow permit holders to carry a concealed weapon in school zones in any state.

Legislative History

This information is current as of October 3, 2025.

Congress	Short title	Bill number	Date introduced	Sponsor	# of cosponsors	Latest status
114th Congress	Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015		February 13, 2015	Richard Hudson	216	Died in committee
115th Congress	Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017		January 3, 2017	Richard Hudson	213	Passed in the House
116th Congress	Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2019		January 3, 2019	Richard Hudson	167	Died in committee
117th Congress	Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act		January 4, 2021	Richard Hudson	203	Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
118th Congress	Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act		January 9, 2023	Richard Hudson	171	Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
119th Congress	Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act		January 3, 2025	Richard Hudson	189	Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

The version of the bill was introduced in the 115th United States Congress by Richard Hudson, a North Carolina Republican in the United States House of Representatives, on January 3, 2017. Hudson is the bill's chief sponsor, but the bill has over 200 co-sponsors as well. On November 29, the House Judiciary Committee voted 19-11 to advance the bill to the floor of the House for a vote. Congressional Democrats had proposed multiple amendments to the bill, all of which were voted down by Republicans. The bill is intended to be combined with another, bipartisan bill aimed at improving the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. On December 6, the House passed the bill 231-198.

Responses

The National Rifle Association praised the bill, writing on its website that "This would end abuses in anti-gun states like California, New York and New Jersey and allow law-abiding concealed carriers to exercise their rights nationwide with peace of mind".
Democrats have criticized the bill, claiming, among other things, that it would infringe on states' rights and adversely affect public safety. Gun control advocates such as Sara Gorman have also criticized the bill, stating that it would be dangerous for victims of domestic abuse because it would allow people to circumvent background checks for guns or permits by obtaining them in more permissive states.
On February 11, 2018, it was reported that President Donald Trump "fully" supported the bill, but on February 27 it was reported that Trump instead preferred Fix NICS Act, sponsored by Senator John Cornyn, that included stronger background checks. Trump signed "Fix NICS" on March 23, 2018.