On Wednesday, Dec. 6, the United States House of Representatives voted to pass the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, a bill that, if passed by the Senate and signed into law by the president, would amend the United States Code to allow gun owners with a valid concealed carry license to possess and carry a concealed handgun in any state that allows residents the opportunity to carry a concealed firearm.
The legislation reads:
… A person who is not prohibited by Federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm, who is carrying a valid identification document containing a photograph of the person, and who is carrying a valid license or permit which is issued pursuant to the law of a State and which permits the person to carry a concealed firearm or is entitled to carry a concealed firearm in the State in which the person resides, may possess or carry a concealed handgun (other than a machinegun or destructive device) that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, in any State that—
“(1) has a statute under which residents of the State may apply for a license or permit to carry a concealed firearm; or
“(2) does not prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms by residents of the State for lawful purposes.
The National Rifle Association was a vehement supporter of the legislation, and applauded the bill’s passage. Chris Cox, the executive director for the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, called the passage a “watershed moment for Second Amendment rights.”
The bill has faced severe scrutiny from organizations dedicated to reducing gun violence, including the Brady Campaign To End Gun Violence and Everytown for Gun Safety.
“In the aftermath of two of America’s deadliest mass shootings, Congress should be voting to keep guns out of dangerous hands by supporting, strengthening, and expanding our nation’s background check system,” said Brady Campaign Co-President Kris Brown. “Instead, today they are voting on a bill that makes it easier for dangerous people to carry loaded guns in our communities.”
Everytown for Gun Violence described the bill as a “chaotic and dangerous policy” that would turn the weakest state concealed carry laws into nationwide laws that they say would make communities less safe.
9 Pennsylvania representatives voted in favor of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, with 8 representatives voting against it. Below is a complete list of which Pennsylvania representatives voted in favor of the bill, and which representatives did not.
Pennsylvania Representatives Who Voted In Favor Of The Bill:
- Mike Kelly (R) 3rd District
- Scott Perry (R) 4th District
- Glenn Thompson (R) 5th District
- Bill Shuster (R) 9th District
- Tom Marino (R) 10th District
- Lou Barletta (R) 11th District
- Keith Rothfus (R) 12th District
- Charlie Dent (R) 15th District
- Lloyd Smucker (R) 16th District
Pennsylvania Representatives Who Voted Against The Bill:
- Robert Brady (D) 1st District
- Dwight Evans (D) 2nd District
- Ryan Costello (R) 6th District
- Patrick Meehan (R) 7th District
- Brian Fitzpatrick (R) 8th District
- Brendan Boyle (D) 13th District
- Michael Doyle Jr. (D) 14th District
- Matthew Cartwright (D) 17th District
The congressional seat for Pennsylvania’s 18th District is currently vacant.
