Hill: "Our Right to Bear Arms Should Extend Across State Lines"

Press Release

Congressman French Hill (AR-02) issued the following statement after voting for legislation that upholds the Second Amendment:

"The right to bear arms is firmly established by our Constitution, and that right should extend across state lines. After being robbed twice and fearing for her and her children's safety, Shaneen Allen obtained her concealed carry permit in Pennsylvania and legally purchased a firearm. When she traveled from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, she was stopped by a State Trooper and told him she had a firearm on her person and a concealed carry permit. Shaneen was then arrested on lawful weapons charges and resided in jail for 48 days. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie pardoned her two years later.

"From day one, I strongly supported this common sense legislation that allows law-abiding citizens like Shaneen with concealed carry permits to travel from state to state with their legally-obtained firearms. This bill clarifies the disarray of concealed carry reciprocity agreements between states, and it does not alter or change any local laws. Every person who wants to buy a firearm in America would still have to go through a thorough federal background check. We've taken a great step in the House today to preserve Arkansans' and Americans' right to bear arms. I was proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill, and I am committed to upholding our Second Amendment rights."

Background:

The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, H.R. 38, does the following:

Grants reciprocity to U.S. law-abiding citizens with concealed carry permits who are in other states that also issue concealed carry permits. A qualified individual must: (1) be eligible to possess, transport, or receive a firearm under federal law; (2) carry a valid photo identification document; and (3) carry a valid concealed carry permit issued by, or be eligible to carry a concealed firearm in, his or her state of residence.
Maintains states' rights to determine permitting requirements and allows citizens who meet the qualifications for concealed carry in their home states to carry in any state they may be travelling in as long as they follow the local firearm laws, including those governing concealed carry permits.
Contains strong provisions to ensure states and federal agencies upload records that are already required to be included in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and would have ensured that the Virginia Tech, Charleston church, and Sutherland Springs shooters would have been flagged in the NICS system and prevented their firearm purchases.

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