A nationwide concealed carry reciprocity bill was introduced. It could help truckers to better defend themselves over the road.

A North Carolina Representative introduced a bill that would provide nationwide reciprocity for concealed carry license holders and for residents of Constitutional Carry states.

The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (or H.R. 38) was introduced by U.S. Representative Richard Hudson on January 9.

Hudson says that that H.R. 38 would allow people with state-issued concealed carry licenses or permits to conceal a handgun in any other state. The bill also allows residents of Constitutional Carry states to carry in other states.

You can view the full text of H.R. 38 here.

“Our Second Amendment right does not disappear when we cross invisible state lines, and this commonsense legislation guarantees that,” said Rep. Hudson. “The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act will protect law-abiding citizens’ rights to conceal carry and travel freely between states without worrying about conflicting state codes or onerous civil suits. I am proud to see such strong and widespread support, and I will not stop fighting to get this legislation signed into law.”

H.R. 38 is endorsed by the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), Gun Owners of America (GOA), the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).

Similar legislation has been introduced several times in the past few years, but the bills have never made it past the legislative hurdles to be signed into law.

President-Elect Trump is expected to sign the bill into law if it is approved by Congress.

For the trucking community, H.R. 38 would make it easier for drivers to concealed carry a firearm across state lines for personal protection while operating over the road. No law prohibits truck drivers from carrying guns, but many carriers do not allow it and most U.S. military bases prohibit it. The current complicated network of state concealed carry reciprocity laws can make it tough for truckers who operate interstate to legally carry a weapon for self-defense.

Earlier this month, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of a pair of truckers against Minnesota state officials. The suit argues that the state is impeding on the Second Amendment rights of the truckers by refusing to honor other states’ lawfully issued firearm permits.