Providing for Consideration of H.R. 822, National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOREN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Act of 2011. The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution provides citizens with the individual right to keep and bear arms. This right enables Americans to use firearms for self-protection, for hunting, and for other lawful activities.

H.R. 822 would guarantee that individuals who are legally licensed to carry a concealed weapon in their home State could also legally carry a concealed weapon in another State. The bill seeks to protect our fundamental liberty, not restrict it. Just as one State recognizes a driver's license issued by another State, I believe States should recognize conceal-and-carry licenses issued by another.

Today, some States already have reciprocity agreements to recognize the conceal-and-carry laws of other States, while some do not. The result is a piecemeal system where a law-abiding citizen may be required to give up his or her weapon at a State line. If passed, this bill would streamline the system by making it more simple and uniform. H.R. 822 does not create Federal standards for obtaining permits nor does it require States to adopt a specific licensing system. Each State's right to determine its own permitting system will remain intact regardless of H.R. 822.

Since the founding of our Nation, American citizens have had the constitutional right to bear arms, and I believe this legislation is a commonsense solution to preserve that right. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule today and to support final passage of H.R. 822.

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