Imagine a woman driving across state lines alone at night, fearful that her car might break down and leave her vulnerable. Or picture a truck driver hauling valuable cargo across the country. In states such as California, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Oregon \u2013 five of the ten states that refuse to recognize concealed handgun permits from other states \u2013 these travelers can find themselves defenseless. Nine states also either deny non-residents permits altogether or make them extremely difficult to obtain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week<\/a>, President Trump again<\/a> called for passage of national concealed carry reciprocity. The legislation would allow anyone legally permitted to carry a concealed handgun in their home state to carry across state lines, much as Americans use their driver\u2019s licenses nationwide. The legislation would affect millions of law-abiding Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [snip]<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis legislation is a dramatic infringement on states\u2019 rights,\u201d claimed<\/a> Emma Brown, executive director of the gun-control group Giffords, echoing a common criticism. Yet those same organizations routinely advocate federal gun-control laws that override state policy choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Opponents also claimed that national reciprocity would confuse travelers about which gun laws apply in each state and lead to more arrests. But reciprocity already exists across much of the country, and no evidence<\/a> shows that out-of-state permit holders create such problems. Indeed, the same situation exists for drivers when they cross state lines: They are required to follow the driving regulations for the state they are in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Critics also argue that permit standards vary from state to state. Yet no evidence shows that states with less restrictive permitting systems experience higher permit revocation rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [snip]<\/p>\n\n\n\n With tens of millions of Americans legally carrying concealed handguns over many decades, if opponents could identify even dozens of cases in which out-of-state permit holders created serious problems, their concerns would deserve careful consideration. They cannot. Such cases remain exceedingly rare. Americans do not need to guess whether gun-control advocates\u2019 concerns<\/strong> are justified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Carrying a firearm provides the greatest benefit to those who face the largest physical disadvantages \u2013 women and the elderly \u2013 and to those who face the highest risk of violent crime, including many poor black residents of high-crime neighborhoods. Not surprisingly, these groups have accounted for the largest percentage growth<\/a> in permit ownership over the past decade. Between 2015 and 2024, permits held by women grew 112% faster than those held by men, while permits held by black Americans grew 284% faster than those held by whites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Real life is not the movies. Most women cannot overpower several larger, stronger men, no matter how well trained they are. Men also generally possess greater upper-body strength and speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [snip]<\/p>\n\n\n\n The House will likely pass national reciprocity, but it faces a steeper challenge in the Senate. Breaking the expected Democratic filibuster will require 60 votes, meaning at least seven Democratic senators must cross party lines. Those senators need only examine their own states\u2019 experience. Six states represented by 12 Democratic senators \u2013 Arizona, Georgia, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont<\/a>, and Virginia<\/a> \u2013 already recognize concealed handgun permits from every other state. None has seen a problem with reciprocity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Police play an indispensable role in public safety. But around 700,000<\/a> officers cannot protect over 340 million Americans everywhere at once. Congress should ensure that law-abiding Americans do not lose their ability to defend themselves simply by crossing a state line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n