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Lawmaker reintroduces concealed carry bill that would help truckers defend themselves when they cross state lines

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A North Carolina lawmaker has reintroduced legislation that would cut through a confusing network of city, county, and state regulations and make it easier for truckers to protect themselves by introducing national concealed-carry reciprocity.

On the opening day of Congress on January 4, 2021, U.S. Representative Richard Hudson introduced H.R. 38, also known as the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act.

The bill would allow people with state-issued concealed carry licenses or permits to conceal a handgun in any other state, as long as the permit holder follows the laws of that state. It also allows residents of Constitutional carry states the ability to carry in other states.

“Our Second Amendment rights do not disappear when we cross state lines, and H.R. 38 guarantees that,” said Hudson. “The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act is a common sense solution to provide law-abiding citizens the right to conceal carry and travel freely between states without worrying about conflicting state codes or onerous civil suits. I am especially proud to have such widespread and bipartisan support for this measure and will work with my colleagues to get this legislation over the finish line.”

Hudson says that H.R. 38 currently has “a record” 154 original cosponsors and is awaiting assignment to a committee.

Hudson initially introduced the bill in December 2017, when it passed in the House by a vote of 231-198 but failed to make progress in the Senate. Hudson has reintroduced the bill again since then and has vowed to continue to do so until it is signed into law.

Should the bill pass, it could go a long way towards clearing up the confusion surrounding OTR trucking while carrying a firearm. While there is no law that prohibits truck drivers from carrying guns, many carriers do not allow it and most U.S. military bases prohibit it. To complicate matters, varied state concealed carry reciprocity laws mean that truckers need to do their homework before they cross state lines while carrying a firearm to make sure that they are compliant with the law.

Over the spring and summer of 2020, many truckers expressed concern over violence after several drivers who found themselves in the midst of social justice demonstrations were lootedattacked by protesters, and arrested and charged.

You can click here to access an interactive map to help you understand which states will honor your home state’s concealed carry permits.

In the video below, you can see Hudson speak on the House floor in support of the initial push for H.R. 38 in December of 2017.

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