The Lowest Standard Becomes the National Floor
H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, would force every state to honor concealed carry permits from every other state. It has 120+ co-sponsors. It passed the House Judiciary Committee 18-9 in March 2025 and is awaiting a full House floor vote.
29 states require zero training for concealed carry. H.R. 38 would force every state to accept those permits. Both the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police oppose it. The bill allows lawsuits against officers.
Twenty-nine states allow permitless or “constitutional” carry with zero training requirements. Under H.R. 38, someone legally carrying in Mississippi with no permit, no training, and no background check beyond the original purchase could carry concealed in New York City, which requires 16 hours of classroom instruction, 2 hours of live-fire range training, a written test, and accepts zero reciprocity agreements.
The bill does not create a national standard. It creates a race to the bottom.
Both Major Police Organizations Oppose It
The Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police issued a joint call to action urging Congress to reject H.R. 38. Their concerns center on officer safety, liability, and the inability to verify out-of-state eligibility, especially from states where no physical permit exists.
The bill creates a private right of action allowing lawsuits against officers or agencies that interfere with out-of-state carry. An officer in New Jersey who detains someone carrying concealed under a Mississippi permitless carry regime could face personal liability.
States that adopted permitless carry experienced a 32% increase in gun assaults.
What you can do now
- Call your U.S. senators and tell them to vote against H.R. 38 if it reaches the Senate floor. The bill passed the House Judiciary Committee 18-9 and is awaiting a full House vote. Both the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police oppose it. Use Resist Bot to send a message.
- Contact your U.S. representative and ask whether they co-sponsored H.R. 38. The bill has 120+ co-sponsors. If yours is one, tell them that states with permitless carry experienced a 32% increase in gun assaults and that the bill allows lawsuits against officers who enforce state gun laws.
- Tell your state legislators to maintain your state’s concealed carry training and permitting standards. H.R. 38 would force states with rigorous requirements to accept permits from the 29 states that require zero training. State-level standards are the last line of defense if the federal bill passes.
- Ask your senators to co-sponsor the Virginia Plan (S. 4339) as an alternative. The bill includes universal background checks and closes the boyfriend loophole permanently, addressing gun violence with evidence-based measures instead of eliminating state-level protections.