Norton Thanks Raskin for Amendment to Protect Nation’s Capital from National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) thanked Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who serves on the House Judiciary Committee, for offering an amendment today that would exempt the District of Columbia from a bill (H.R. 38) that would require every jurisdiction to recognize out-of-state concealed carry handgun permits, even though states have different requirements for such permits. Norton spoke in support of the amendment this morning at a House Democratic Caucus meeting. The amendment failed by voice vote.

"I do not serve on the Judiciary Committee, but Representative Raskin, who has been a leading champion of equality for the District of Columbia, has stepped up to try to stop the insanity of allowing virtually unrestricted concealed carry in the nation's capital," Norton said. "This bill is a threat to the heart of the federal government and local D.C. Considering recent gun massacres from, Sutherland Springs, TX to Las Vegas, NV, it is difficult to believe any national or local legislature would encourage people to carry concealed guns across state lines today. Republicans are so beholden to the National Rifle Association, which has made national concealed carry reciprocity its top priority, they are willing to endanger the President, cabinet, other federal officials, foreign diplomats and the many controversial figures, who regularly frequent our amenities and travel openly in our public places. Representative Raskin's amendment is necessary, with the permission of the District of Columbia, even if D.C. had statehood."

Under Norton's D.C. statehood bill, D.C.'s current residential and commercial neighborhoods would become the 51st state, while the federal territory, the nation's capital, would be reduced in size and consist only of the monumental core of the city, including the White House and Capitol. Norton would support exempting that new nation's capital from the bill, as well as the new state because those who visit the nation's capital frequent public places outside of the confines of the Mall and federal buildings.

Norton continues to fight the two D.C.-specific gun bills that are pending in Congress. One bill, the Second Amendment Enforcement Act, sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Thomas Garrett (R-VA), would eliminate almost all of D.C.'s gun laws. The other, the DC Personal Protection Reciprocity Act, sponsored by Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), would require D.C. to recognize out-of-state permits, regardless of a state's permitting laws. The Congresswoman has succeeded in keeping these bills from becoming law in past Congresses.

In light of a recent U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit decision, concealed carry permit applicants in D.C. no longer need to demonstrate a good reason to carry. However, other D.C. permit requirements, such as training, are still in force. If H.R. 38 were to become law, people with out-of-state carry permits could carry in D.C. without complying with D.C.'s requirements.