CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND ASK HIM TO VOTE AGAINST H.R. 38

Gun violence is one of the most significant issues facing American society today; the horror of this violence is evidenced in the number of mass shootings our country has witnessed over the past decade. Concerned about the senseless loss of innocent lives, our JCRC has routinely called for effective and reasonable legislation that will reduce gun violence. We need your help now to stop a piece of harmful legislation making its way through the House of Representatives.

TAKE ACTION: 

HR 38, the national mandatory concealed carry reciprocity bill, would gut state gun laws and force states to accept the more lax concealed carry standards of other states. For example, we have a licensing system in PA which relies on a strong background check, but this bill would force us to honor concealed carry permits from states with weaker systems, and even states like Mississippi, which doesn’t require a license or permit to carry at all.

Call your Congressman ASAP and tell him to vote against the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017.  All you have to say is “Hello I am a constituent and I’m calling to ask the Congressman to vote against HR 38, national mandatory concealed carry reciprocity.”

BACKGROUND:

H.R. 38, Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 amends the federal criminal code to allow a qualified individual to carry a concealed handgun or possess a concealed handgun in another state without securing a permit in a state other than the one in which the permit was issued.  If passed, this bill would hurt states with strict concealed carry laws and would force those states to honor concealed carry permits from states with weak or no restrictions on concealed carry.  For example, if you have a concealed carry permit from Virginia – whose laws are less restrictive than Pennsylvania’s – you would be able to carry your gun in Pennsylvania regardless of whether or not you would meet Pennsylvania’s requirements.

Additionally, 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. This bill would make it legal for more dangerous and untrained people to carry hidden guns in more public places. This bill also would make it impossible for law enforcement officers to quickly and easily verify that people carrying a hidden weapon are doing so legally. Law enforcement agencies across the nation oppose this bill.

This bill is dangerous. If passed, it will force states with strong concealed carry laws to honor permits or licenses from states with weak concealed carry laws, including states that do not even require concealed carry licenses or permits at all. In 11 states, no permit is required to carry a concealed firearm. This bill does not create a national, uniform standard. It makes all states default to the lowest standard that exists.

Contact Information:

Cong. Robert Brady (PA-1st)
Phone: 202-225-4731
https://brady.house.gov/contact-me

Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-2nd)
Phone: 202-225-4001
https://evans.house.gov/contact

Cong. Ryan Costello (PA-6th)
Phone: 202-225-4315
https://costello.house.gov/contact

Cong. Pat Meehan (PA-7th)
Phone: 202-225-2011
https://meehan.house.gov/contact

Cong. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-8th)
Phone:  202-225-4276
https://fitzpatrick.house.gov/contact-me

Cong. Brendan Boyle (PA-13th)
Phone: 202-225-6111
https://boyle.house.gov/contact

Cong. Lloyd Smucker (PA-16th)
Phone: 202-225-2411
https://smucker.house.gov/contact/email

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Abbey Frank, Assistant Director, JCRC
Phone: 215.832.0553
Email: afrank@jewishphilly.org

Robin Schatz, Director of Government Affairs
Phone: 215.832.0654
Email: rschatz@jewishphilly.org