Congressmen Chuck Fleischmann, Scott DesJarlais and Tom Graves were among those supporting The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act," which passed in the House 231 to 98.
Rep. Fleischmann said, "For far too long law-abiding gun owners have had to navigate a treacherous and ever shifting labyrinth of local and state gun laws while traveling with their concealed carry permits.
"H.R. 38, The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, will provide certainty to properly licensed individuals who travel with a firearm to carry in all states that already allow for concealed carry.
I was proud to vote for H.R. 38 to ensure that upstanding citizens are not deprived of their Second Amendment rights or threatened with needless jail time due to crossing a state border."
An original co-sponsor of the legislation, Congressman DesJarlais, M.D., voted for the bill that would allow any Tennessean licensed to carry a concealed handgun in his home state, to carry it in another where concealed-carry is also legal, as long that person follows local law.
He said, "The right to self-defense is an unalienable one and the most important to protecting ourselves from harm, as the Supreme Court has decided. Our Constitution guarantees that right – and also that states must respect our common laws.
“Today’s bill ensures Tennesseans who wish to exercise their Second Amendment rights will face no undue burden when traveling to gun-friendly states.”
Rep. Graves (R-GA-14) noted that the legislation permits individuals with a concealed carry permit to carry a concealed firearm in any state that allows it.
“The Second Amendment is alive and well, and passing this bill reaffirms the constitutional right of every law-abiding American to keep and bear arms,” said Rep. Graves. “With concealed carry reciprocity, those who legally hold a concealed carry permit in one state can carry in another state without fear of accidently breaking its laws.”
He added, "The case of Shaneen Allen is an example of why H.R. 38 is necessary. In 2013, Ms. Allen, a single mother of two, was arrested in New Jersey for unlawful possession of a weapon even though she was licensed to carry a concealed firearm in her home state of Pennsylvania. After spending 40 days in jail and losing her job, she was pardoned by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie."