U.S. Sen. John Cornyn this week introduced a national concealed carry reciprocity bill that would make state-issued concealed carry permits valid nationwide.
“This would go a long, long way to eliminating the patchwork of whether you can go through that state, around that state or bypass that state completely,” says Alice Tripp, legislative director for the Texas State Rifle Association.
“You would have access to this form of personal protection without having to look up to see whether your state has a reciprical agreement with all the states you're going to go through or the state where you land.”
While critics argue the move is dangerous, Tripp says we're talking about trained and responsible gun owners.
“It has to do with people who have had some kind of training, some kind of testing, passed some kind of background check and have a license to carry a handgun,” she says.
Tripp says the ultimate goal is constitutional carry, which does not require a license at all. But she says reciprocity would be the next best thing.
However, even if Sen. Cornyn received every Republican vote, he still would need seven Democrats to avoid a potential filibuster.