Legislation to Promote Americans' Second Amendment Right Passes House

Statement

U.S. Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-11), a co-sponsor of H.R. 822, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, today issued the following statement upon passage of bipartisan legislation that enables any person with a state-issued carry permit to carry in any other state that issues permits to its own residents, subject to the limitations that apply to permit holders in the host state.

"Today's bipartisan passage for the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act grants law-abiding citizens with valid permits or licenses to bear concealed firearms in other states that permit concealed carry.

"Unfortunately, the bill will not apply in Illinois, which does not issue permits because Illinois Governor Pat Quinn fails to understand the risks he manufactures in the very state in which he governs. Although Governor Quinn does not understand the importance of allowing the state's own citizens the right to carry, I do, which is why I co-sponsored this bill along with eight other members of Congress from Illinois. I refuse to deny the residents of other states -and Illinois residents who have gotten nonresident permits elsewhere- the right to travel freely and safely in the 49 states that have not tried to completely eliminate that right.

"This legislation further upholds Americans' Second Amendment right to carry wherever permitted by states. Visiting gun owners must follow the laws and regulations of the concealed firearm in that state.

"It is high time that Illinois wake up and acknowledge this fundamental right is neither a Republican nor a Democratic issue; rather it's about giving honest citizens the right to self-defense.

"I strongly encourage those in the Illinois Delegation to do all they can to support this Second Amendment right so that one day Illinois will follow the example set by every other state in this nation and allow law-abiding citizens to own and bear arms."

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