Knightly News | Conceal Carry Reciprocity Act: What It Is and What It Means For NYC

By Layne Friedman

Gun laws have long been one of the most divisive issues in American Politics. The fact that there have been 8 school shootings since the new year, all of which have resulted in injury or death, is a horrifying figure that has only further fueled the debate between the Gun Lobby and gun control advocates. While the recent tragedy in Florida has put tremendous pressure on politicians to instate tougher gun laws and dominated the recent news cycles, a law that could have lasting implications is making its way through Congress without much notice.

Gun’s are both a political and cultural divider within American society. The thought of carrying a gun around in New York City seems like far-fetched fiction but for many, like Scott Yarbro, a gun rights advocate, carrying a gun is part of their daily routine. “It’s like when I get up in the morning and I get dressed, I get my wallet, I get my watch, I get my keys, I get my phone. It’s the same thing to get my gun,” Yarbro described to CBS’ 60 Minutes. When discussing gun laws, it’s critical to remember the fundamental divide in American ideals surrounding guns and how polarized this debate often is. It might seem completely logical to someone in San Francisco never to own or even touch a gun, whereas a gun might be an integral part one’s daily routine in rural Idaho. In many states it is perfectly legal to carry a loaded and concealed firearm, however, laws greatly differ state to state. The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act aims to allow any person to carry a concealed gun across state lines. The laws that will apply to the owner and carrier of the weapon are that of the state that they come from with the gun. For example, if you are a gun owner in West Virginia, a state with some of the most lax gun laws in the country, under the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act you would be allowed to carry your weapon into New York City with West Virginia’s laws still applying, despite the fact that New York City has much stricter laws.

Tim Schmidt is president and founder of the United States Concealed Carry Association, and on the same 60 Minutes segment mention above he explained the Gun Lobby’s case for the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. He stated that “These laws change on a quarterly basis, if not more often. So you can easily go from being a responsibly armed citizen, who’s 100 percent legal, to being a criminal just by crossing state lines” and claims that too often gun owners become criminals simply for not knowing the most up to date laws regarding their weapons. The NRA and other gun rights advocates use the case of Shaneen Allen to fuel their message. On the house floor, Rep. Richard Hudson, author of the bill, told Allen’s story:

In 2013, while driving from Philadelphia to Atlantic City, New Jersey, the single mother and mugging victim was pulled over with a pistol in her purse and a valid concealed carry permit from her home state of Pennsylvania. What she didn’t know is that New Jersey didn’t recognize Pennsylvania’s concealed carry permit. So this single mom who had never had a run-in with the law spent almost two months in jail and was facing ten years in prison because she’d crossed that state line.

This story outlines the position that well-meaning gun holders can face severe punishments simply for crossing into a new state. However, it is hard not to notice that the story put forth by organizations such as the NRA, which tend to side with conservatives, is one of a single Black mom and mugging victim. The use of a Black woman and mother is one way which gun rights advocates combat gun control activists. It substantially harder for a liberally leaning group (which gun control activists tend to be) to argue against a Black Woman than it is the white men you typically see leading gun rights groups.

Law enforcement in large cities with strict gun laws are some of the biggest opponents of the proposed bill. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance and New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill claim that New York City probably has the most to lose. As one of the biggest centers of tourism in the United States, people from all over the country are constantly visiting New York. If people were allowed to bring their guns that are legal in other states into New York City, the number of guns would skyrocket and be nearly impossible to track. O’Neill stated that “we have a good idea of– of who’s carrying guns. If this law passes, the– all bets are off. Anybody can come into New York City from any state and– and carry a weapon.” District Attorney Vance brought up another issue he has with the bill- the fact that in many ways it would require one state to adhere to the laws of another. He told CBS 60 Minutes, “I wouldn’t presume to tell the residents of West Virginia what their gun laws should be. They’ve figured out what they want there. But I don’t think they, or Congress, should be having West Virginia’s laws put on New York City.”

On top of law enforcement’s fear that this law could pose a danger to many people, gun control advocates are also stressing that the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act will simply make looser gun laws more prominent throughout the country. Robyn Thomas, the executive director of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence says “forcing states to accept any and all gun permits would make the weakest laws in the country the new norm.” The bill would make it harder for states to maintain strong gun laws as the lightest laws would effectively be allowed everywhere. Despite these arguments, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act already passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 231-198 and is currently working its way through the Senate. Should it pass in the Senate, it seems as though the president would ratify the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act making it federal law.

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