Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC) have introduced parallel legislation to establish nationwide concealed carry reciprocity for law-abiding gun owners.
The Senate’s “Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025” and the House’s H.R. 38 aim to protect Second Amendment rights across state lines, simplifying the legal framework for concealed carry license holders and residents of Constitutional Carry states.
Senator Cornyn’s bill, co-sponsored by over 40 Republican senators, would allow individuals with state-issued concealed carry permits to legally carry their firearms in any state with similar concealed carry laws.
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The bill ensures:
- Uniformity Across States: License holders would be subject to the same laws and restrictions as residents of the states they visit.
- State Rights Respected: States retain authority over the issuance of concealed carry permits while ensuring reciprocity for non-resident permit holders.
- Legal Consistency: The legislation addresses the challenges gun owners face when traveling across states with varying concealed carry regulations.
Representative Hudson reintroduced H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, with over 120 co-sponsors, marking strong bipartisan support. Hudson’s bill mirrors the Senate legislation and additionally allows residents of Constitutional Carry states to exercise their rights in other states.
“The time is long past due for this nation to enter the 21st Century by recognizing the right to bear arms doesn’t stop at state borders,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. “This is, and always has been, a core issue for the Citizens Committee, and we will encourage all of our members and supporters to tell Congress it is time to make reciprocity the law of the land.”
“Our Second Amendment right does not disappear when we cross invisible state lines,” said Rep. Hudson. “This commonsense legislation guarantees law-abiding citizens the ability to travel freely while protecting their right to self-defense. I will not stop fighting until this legislation is signed into law.”
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The legislative efforts have garnered widespread backing from prominent pro-Second Amendment organizations, including the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), Gun Owners of America (GOA), the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
“The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed an individual’s fundamental right to keep and bear arms,” said John Commerford, Executive Director of NRA-ILA. “Congress should now ensure that the right to self-defense does not end at a state line. NRA applauds and thanks Rep. Hudson for his longstanding and unwavering leadership in the fight for right-to-carry reciprocity.”
“Congress has the opportunity to deliver the greatest legislative victory for the gun rights movement in a century, and President Trump has already voiced his support,” said Aidan Johnston, GOA Director of Federal Affairs.“With all 50 states now issuing concealed carry permits, 49 states allowing nonresident carry, and 29 states with permitless or Constitutional Carry, it is simply common sense for Congress to ensure that each state’s concealed carry license is valid in every other state. We thank President Trump for his leadership on this issue and urge Congress to swiftly send Rep. Hudson’s Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act to the President’s desk to be signed.”
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The House previously passed a similar reciprocity bill in 2017 with bipartisan support, but it stalled in the Senate. Proponents of the 2025 legislation are optimistic about its chances under the Republican-controlled 119th Congress and President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to sign the bill into law.
“This legislation eliminates the confusing patchwork of laws surrounding concealed carry permits that vary from state-to-state, particularly with regard to states where laws make unwitting criminals out of legal permit holders for a simple mistake of a wrong traffic turn,” said Lawrence Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel.“It safeguards a state’s right to determine their own laws while protecting the Second Amendment rights of all Americans. We thank Rep. Hudson for his leadership on behalf of America’s hunters and recreational shooters.”
The Senate bill has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, while H.R. 38 begins its journey through the House. If passed, the legislation will take effect 90 days after being signed into law, establishing a unified framework for concealed carry across the nation.
Advocates and lawmakers are urging swift passage, emphasizing the importance of consistency, safety, and the constitutional right to bear arms for all Americans.
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