Congressman David Schweikert (R - Ariz.) plans to introduce legislation Thursday that if passed will require Washington D.C., an area that functions as a ward of the federal government, to recognize and honor concealed carry permits from all 50 states.
The D.C. Personal Protection Reciprocity Act will do three main things:
1) require D.C. to recognize out of state concealed carry permits
2) require D.C. to approve concealed carry applications of recently relocated individuals who lawfully hold concealed carry permits in the states where they moved from
3) require the D.C. chief of Police, currently Chief Cathy Lanier, to enter into reciprocity agreements with all state
“We have the data that you [concealed carry holders] are not a risk to society,” Schweikert tells Townhall. “We can demonstrate that proper law enforcement and right to carry has made many of our states safer."
Just two years ago a federal court struck down Washington D.C.'s complete ban on concealed and open carry in the District. Since then, the process to obtain a concealed carry license has been extremely difficult and although hundreds of people have applied for a permit, just over 40 have been granted.
“Just because you’ve chosen to live on this side of the river doesn’t mean you should lose your constitutional rights,” Schweikert says.
The legislation currently has more than 30 co-sponsors and the list is growing. Schweikert says this legislation has been in the works for six months and is not a response to President Obama's executive actions on gun control earlier this week.