A Senate Resolution respectfully urging Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act."

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 the 2021-2022 session, the "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act," has been re-introduced in the United States Congress in an effort to protect our citizens' Second Amendment rights by 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, Currently, 20 states recognize all United States issued concealed carry permits and 18 additional states honor select states' concealed carry permits; and

Whereas, Enactment of the "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act" 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. This House respectfully urges Congress and the President of the United States to enact H.R. 38, the "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act."

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

STATEMENT

This resolution urges Congress and the President of the United States to enact the "Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act," which is pending before the House of Representatives as H.R. 38.

H.R. 38 authorizes a person possessing a valid identification document containing the person's photograph to carry a concealed handgun, other than a machine gun or destructive device, 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 traveling 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 traveling in those states without the ability to protect themselves and their families.

The resolution urges Congress and the President of the United States 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.