By Chris Dorr, American FIrearms Association – April 23, 2025 It’s been more than FIFTY years since a major piece of pro-Second Amendment legislation has passed in Washington, DC. But that all could change –- and soon –- if you and I can mobilize enough grassroots pressure on the U.S. House and Senate to pass the National Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38). For too long, law-abiding citizens have been forced to navigate a confusing and often contradictory patchwork of state laws regarding carry a firearm from one state to the next. Imagine, a scenario that is all too common, perhaps one you’ve run into when traveling across country on a family vacation or work trip: a responsible gun owner, legally permitted to carry a firearm in their home state, travels across a state line. Suddenly, they find themselves in a state where their permit is not recognized, pulled over by a police officer, then faced with the prospect of potentially turning them into a criminal for simply exercising their Second Amendment rights. Passage of the National Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38) fixes this problem. Just two weeks ago, H.R. 38 passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on a party line vote, moving one step closer to a full vote of the House. But if the gun-grabbers and the RINOs in the House get their way, the Judiciary Committee is as far as this bill will ever get. It will never reach President Donald Trump’s desk, who by the way, has said on video that he will sign National Reciprocity into law. You and I have to crank the heat up in DC to move this bill quickly, or it will be stopped dead in its tracks. That’s why I need you to sign your PASS NATIONAL RECIPROCITY (H.R. 38) petition to your Congressman and Senators at once. The very fact that you and I have to navigate dozens of different gun laws just to travel freely in our own country is outrageous. This is not merely an inconvenience; it is a direct assault on our constitutional liberties. Our rights, as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, should not be limited or diminished simply because we cross an invisible line on a map. The Second Amendment, like the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech, or the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable search and seizure, should not stop at the state Law-abiding citizens are left in a state of uncertainty, unsure of whether they can legally protect themselves and their families when they travel. This confusion not only infringes upon our ability to exercise our Second Amendment rights, but it also undermines the very purpose of those rights: to provide for our safety and security. Passage of the National Reciprocity Act will rectify this injustice. This crucial piece of legislation would ensure that a concealed carry permit issued by one state is recognized in every other state. It is about ensuring that law-abiding citizens are not penalized for exercising their right to self-defense. The benefits of the National Reciprocity Act are numerous and far-reaching: *** Protection of Fundamental Rights: First and foremost, it safeguards the Second Amendment rights of all Americans, ensuring that these rights are applied consistently across state lines. *** Simplification of Laws: It eliminates the confusing and often conflicting patchwork of state laws, making it easier for law-abiding citizens to understand and comply with the legal requirements for concealed carry. *** Deterrence of Crime: Studies have shown that areas with strong concealed carry laws often experience lower crime rates. National reciprocity could extend this deterrent effect across the nation. *** Promotion of Interstate Commerce: It promotes the free movement of people and commerce across state lines, without the fear of legal jeopardy for exercising their Second Amendment rights. *** Empowerment of Self-Defense: It empowers individuals to take responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their loved ones, regardless of where they travel. The Second Amendment is a part of the Constitution, and it guarantees a fundamental right that should not be subject to the whims of individual state legislatures. But billionaires Bloomberg and Soros, and their well-funded anti-gun groups in DC are working overtime right now on Capitol Hill to kill National Reciprocity. Please help crank up the heat by signing your PASS NATIONAL RECIPROCITY (H.R. 38) petition to your Congressman and Senators, and we will make sure your voice gets heard in DC. Go to this website to sign up: https://www.americanfirearmsassociation.org/action/nationalreciprocity-pet/ Chris Dorr is President of American Firearms Association