Northwest Iowa — Northwest Iowans who hold an Iowa Permit to Carry Weapons came one step closer yesterday (Thursday, November 30th) to being allowed to carry their firearms in every other state in the nation that allows concealed carry.
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee on Thursday passed H.R.38, otherwise known as the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, a bill that would amend the federal criminal code to allow a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun into, or possess a concealed handgun in, another state that allows individuals to carry concealed firearms, according to the website congress.gov.
A qualified individual must meet a few requirements: (1) be eligible to possess, transport, or receive a firearm under federal law; (2) carry a valid photo identification document; and (3) carry a valid concealed carry permit issued by, or be eligible to carry a concealed firearm in, his or her state of residence.
Additionally, according to congress.gov, the bill specifies that a qualified individual who lawfully carries or possesses a concealed handgun in another state: (1) is not subject to the federal prohibition on possessing a firearm in a school zone, and (2) may carry or possess the concealed handgun in federally owned lands that are open to the public.
Iowa 4th District Congressman Steve King is one of the bill’s sponsors, and voted in favor of the bill during Thursday’s committee vote.
After the vote, King noted that law-abiding Iowans with concealed carry licenses are exercising their rights under the Second Amendment, and recognize that Second Amendment rights do not end at our state’s borders. King said that H.R.38 “serves notice to gun-grabbers that their efforts to restrict the Constitutional right to keep and bear arms through excessive and burdensome state licensing schemes will not be tolerated.”
The legislation now moves out of committee and is eligible for consideration on the floor of the House of Representatives.
If you’d like to read the entire text of H.R.38, you can find it here.
