Tim Schmidt: Renewed Support for the Second Amendment Across America

From our state capitols to Washington DC, there is no question that last year’s election demonstrated renewed support for the Second Amendment.

After eight years of suppressive policies from the last Administration, the Second Amendment is center stage once more.

Concealed carry permit applications have soared and gun ownership rates have continued to climb steadily, as have the number of law-abiding Americans who apply for their concealed carry permits. In the last year, there have been 1.83 million permits issued, bringing the total number of permits in this country to over 16 million. And with a pro-Second Amendment President in the White House, new public policy is expected to affirm the right to legal gun ownership.

Importantly, people from all backgrounds are taking an interest in their personal safety. Some of the fastest growing groups for concealed carry permits have been women and African-Americans, as well as Asian-Americans, who have shown the largest growth as a demographic applying for permits. In the states that track the genders of applicants, eight states showed that between 2012 and 2016, there was a 326% increase in permit applications from women, who now account for 36% of permit holders. The growing diversity of gun owners is a positive trend, as responsible gun ownership is a right guaranteed to all Americans.

Even though public sentiment is on the side of the Second Amendment–as evidenced by the growing number of gun owners and concealed carry permit holders–there are still groups that seek to stifle this basic Constitutional right.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has promised to dump $25 million into the 2018 campaign cycle to attack pro-concealed carry and pro-Second Amendment candidates. Fortunately, we live in a democracy, and out-of-touch billionaires who pay for expensive lobbying campaigns, and the politicians they try to buy with their money, do not get to decide who has the right to defend themselves.

Concealed carry permits are available to citizens in all 50 states, but each state has varying reciprocity laws for out-of-state permits. A long overdue remedy to this patchwork of laws is addressed in H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC).   And Texas Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has introduced companion legislation that has recently gained momentum. This bill would allow national reciprocity for all concealed carry permits issued by any state, making it easier for law-abiding citizens who have already jumped through bureaucratic hoops to move freely between states without having to worry that they are committing a crime.

If this common-sense bill becomes public policy, citizens would no longer have to choose between their Second Amendment right and taking a trip, moving to, or passing through a state where their piece of paper from the government was not recognized.

Concealed carry permit holders are responsible citizens, who have proven they are willing to comply with the law. Public opinion is in favor of a strong Second Amendment, and the numbers are there to prove it. Now, public policy needs to catch up, and our lawmakers can start by passing national concealed carry reciprocity so responsible gun owners can carry their firearm for personal defense, no matter where they may be.

Tim Schmidt is the president and founder of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association and a guest columnist for “Down Range with AWR Hawkins.”