CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A proposed concealed carry reciprocity bill would allow gun owners to cross into all 50 states with their firearms without breaking any laws.

“This is a real problem. 50 States, 50 different laws,” said Hyatt Gun shop owner Larry Hyatt. 

Right now, North Carolina gun owners have to be careful when traveling with their firearms because only 26 other states have reciprocity laws with the state.

Specifically, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act:

Allows individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state with concealed carry laws;

Treats state-issued concealed carry permits like drivers’ licenses where an individual can use their home-state license to drive in another state, but must abide by that other state’s speed limit or road laws;

And protects state sovereignty by not establishing a national standard for concealed carry. 

“Like in New Jersey, for instance, they outlaw hollow-point bullets, which are the most popular bullets because they expand. They don’t go through the wall and hit somebody down the street, so but they ban them. But most people are carrying them. So you could obey the concealed carry law but violate their ammunition and would still get in a lot of trouble,” Hyatt said. 

The legislation “would allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state that allows concealed carry, while still abiding by that state’s laws.” Hyatt says the law should be similar to having a driver’s license.

“With your driver’s license, you can go all over the 50 states with your driver’s license. As long as you obey the laws of that state, you’re not going to get in trouble. The biggest problem I see is making sure that we know, gun carriers, know the California law, the New Jersey law, the Maine law, the Massachusetts law. So there’s going to be information problem, making sure information gets out to people,” Hyatt said. 

“As a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, I’m proud to introduce the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act,” said Sen. Tillis. “This commonsense legislation ensures that law-abiding citizens can exercise their constitutional right to carry concealed firearms across state lines while respecting the laws of each state. This legislation is a critical step in protecting the right of self-defense for Americans, no matter where they travel.”