More states are allowing the permitless concealed carry of handguns. Twelve states have adopted this level of freedom so far. New Hampshire is one of these states, and if a bill introduced by Congressman Richard Hudson and Senator John Cornyn is passed, residents of New Hampshire would be able to carry concealed throughout much of the country. The Wall Street Journal’s Joe Palazzolo writes:
The legislation, introduced in January, has broad support among Republicans, who hold a two-vote majority in the Senate. But it would need 60 votes for Senate passage, a steep climb in this hyperpartisan climate.
If passed, the measure could hasten the spread of permitless-carry laws, which were rejected in at least 15 states where lawmakers introduced bills in the most recent legislative sessions, gun-control activists said. States with strict permit regimes likely would face pressure to lower their standards to make carrying guns as easy for their residents as for out-of-state visitors.
The National Rifle Association calls the reciprocity bills its highest priority and a necessary substitute for a confusing patchwork of agreements among states that allow concealed-carry permit holders to travel with their guns to some places but not others.
“The right to defend yourself against a violent attack doesn’t end when you step outside your home or cross state lines,” said Jennifer Baker, an NRA spokeswoman.
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