Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, a bill that would dramatically weaken state gun safety laws by overriding existing state laws regarding who may carry loaded, concealed guns in the community and forcing states to allow individuals to carry guns who are not qualified to do so under their own laws. Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement in response:
Today’s vote to approve this extreme, dangerous legislation is a disgraceful moment in our nation’s history. Even in the aftermath of two horrific mass shootings in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs—and as we approach the fifth anniversary of the unspeakably tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School—a majority in the House voted to side with the gun lobby over the American people. Rather than consider popular bipartisan proposals that would reduce gun violence in our country, leadership in the House instead advanced a dangerous proposal at the behest of the National Rifle Association that would imperil law enforcement and undermine duly enacted gun safety laws in states across the country.
Over and over, members of Congress have offered their thoughts and prayers for victims of gun violence. Today’s vote demonstrates that a majority of these same members are unwilling to match their thoughts and prayers with real action to address this public health crisis.
Prior to today’s vote, the House combined the highly contentious Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act with a modest bipartisan measure that would help improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, the Fix NICS Act. In doing so, House leadership once again played politics with public safety and made the path for enacting this smart, commonsense measure more difficult.
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