Lawmaker Announces Bill to Give All Concealed Carriers Reciprocity in D.C.

Congressman Massie.  (Photo: Massie)

Shouldn’t we all be allowed to carry in our nation’s capital?  After all, it is ours.

Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) believes so.  And in light of recent events he’s introduced a bill to give all licensed concealed carry permit holders reciprocity in D.C.

The bill is known as H.R. 2909, the “D.C. Personal Protection Reciprocity Act.”

“After the horrific shooting at the Republican Congressional Baseball practice, there will likely be calls for special privileges to protect politicians,” Congressman Massie explained.

“Our reaction should instead be to protect the right of all citizens guaranteed in the Constitution: the right to self-defense. I do not want to extend a special privilege to politicians, because the right to keep and bear arms is not a privilege, it is a God-given right protected by our Constitution,” he said.

SEE ALSO: Georgia Congressmen Calls for Concealed Carry Reciprocity for Federal Lawmakers

Massie noted that Congress has the authority to legislate gun laws in The District thanks to Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the U.S. Constitution.  It give Congress the authority to “exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever over such District as may become the Seat of the Government of the United States.”

“If not for the heroic efforts of the United States Capitol Police at the ball field yesterday, things could have been much worse. What’s always evident in these situations is this: the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun,” said Massie, echoing a popular NRA refrain.

“To ensure public safety, we need to repeal laws that keep good guys from carrying guns, since not everyone has a personal police detail,” stated Rep. Massie. “The right to keep and bear arms is the common person’s first line of defense in these situations, and it should never be denied.”

While Virginia has reciprocity agreements with many other states, D.C. does not.  In fact, D.C.’s gun laws are notoriously draconian.  You’ll recall that it was one of the last holdouts prohibiting handguns altogether.  It wasn’t until the Supreme Court struck down the ban with the landmark Heller Decision in 2008 that pistols and revolvers were lawful in D.C.

Co-Sponsors of H.R. 2909 include all of the following Reps: Trent Franks (R-AZ), Scott Perry (R-PA), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), Ted Budd (R-NC), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Mark Meadows (R-NC), Jody Hice (R-GA), Justin Amash (R-MI), Mo Brooks (R- AL), Alex Mooney (R-WV), Rod Blum (R-IA), Ken Buck (R-CO), Todd Rokita (R-IN), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Keith Rothfus (R-PA) David Schweikert (R-AZ), Rick Allen (R-GA), Tedd Yoho (R-FL), Randy Weber (R-TX), and Bill Posey (R-FL).

It’ll be interesting to see what becomes of this bill.  Will it pave the way for national concealed carry reciprocity?  I reached out to a Rep. Massie’s press secretary for comment on that exact question.  We’ll see what she has to say.  I’ll update if/when I get a response.