A Senate Resolution memorializing the Congress and the President of the United States to allow reciprocity for the carrying of certain concealed firearms.

Whereas, There exists a public interest in individuals maintaining the ability to protect themselves and their families from violence; and

Whereas, The right to keep and bear arms is enshrined in the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and recognized by the Supreme Court of the United States; and

Whereas, The ability of law-abiding citizens to legally carry concealed firearms to defend themselves is a fundamental right; and

Whereas, It is in the best interest of our nation that citizens be able to travel freely from state to state without sacrificing the right to protect themselves and their families; and

Whereas, States currently may decline to recognize permits to carry concealed firearms issued by other states, thereby causing our citizens to forego the ability to protect themselves and their families when traveling outside of their home states; and

Whereas, Requiring all states to recognize a concealed carry permit issued by another state would rectify this inequality; and

Whereas, H.R. 38 of 2017-2018, the "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017," has been introduced in the United States Congress in an effort to protect our citizens' Second Amendment rights, allowing them to travel between states without sacrificing the ability to protect themselves and their families; and

Whereas, H.R. 38 permits a person carrying a valid identification document containing a photograph of the person and a state concealed weapons permit to carry a concealed handgun in any state, so long as the individual is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law or from carrying a concealed firearm in the individual's state of residence; and

Whereas, At present 22 states recognize other states' permits to carry concealed firearms or allow law-abiding non-residents to carry a firearm without a license; and

Whereas, Enactment of the "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017" will enhance citizens' Second Amendment rights by permitting reciprocity among all the states for the carrying of concealed firearms; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

1. The Congress and the President of the United States are respectfully memorialized to enact H.R. 38, the "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017."

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the United States Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

This Senate resolution memorializes Congress and the President of the United States to enact H.R. 38, which requires reciprocity between all states for the carrying of certain concealed firearms.

H.R. 38 authorizes a person possessing a valid identification document containing the person's photograph to carry a concealed firearm in any state, so long as the individual is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law or from carrying a concealed firearm in the individual's state of residence. This legislation also requires the person to first obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm before travelling with a firearm into other states, and respects states' rights by requiring the traveler to comply with restrictions of the state to which the individual is traveling when present in that state. States may currently decline to recognize concealed carry permits lawfully issued in other states, leaving citizens travelling in those states without the ability to protect themselves and their families.

The resolution memorializes Congress and the President to move forward with the enactment of H.R. 38: to 1) safeguard our citizens' constitutionally protected Second Amendment rights, and 2) allow our citizens to engage in interstate travel without fear of sacrificing their Second Amendment rights or the ability to protect themselves and their families.