Congress must fix and pass H.R. 38 to protect the right to bear arms nationwide.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 2, 2025) – Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) called on Congress to fix and pass H.R. 38, the “Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act,” so that millions of peaceable American gun owners can exercise their right to bear arms without the fear of arrest or prosecution, particularly in anti-Second Amendment strongholds like California, New York, Illinois, and New Jersey.
FPC also announced the launch of its grassroots campaign to fix and pass H.R. 38, online at PassHR38.com, where gun owners can take action to support real, effective nationwide carry legislation.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 2022 decision in NYSRPA v. Bruen, authoritarian, anti-rights states including California, New York, New Jersey, and others have doubled down on tyranny, erecting legal roadblocks that make lawful carry legally risky or virtually impossible. More and more hostile jurisdictions continue to seek out new regulations to prevent people from exercising their right to carry and criminalize common practices. That’s why Congress must pass meaningful carry protections that apply nationwide.
Notably, President Trump has already expressed his support for strong nationwide carry laws and promised to sign a bill should it be sent to his desk. But unless Congress passes strong legislation to actually protect the right to bear arms, gun owners will not be able to lawfully carry for self-defense throughout the United States.
That’s because, right now, federal law bans carry within 1,000 feet of schools unless a gun owner has a valid, federally compliant carry license issued by each and every state they carry in. In fact, state-level reciprocity laws don’t exempt gun owners from this federal criminal law—and neither do state-level “constitutional” (permit-less) carry statutes. And the federal government is prosecuting violations of this law in federal courts right now, highlighting the real-world danger of carrying without strong protections for the right to bear arms.
“FPC has led the fight in courts across America to protect the right to carry, and we know first-hand how anti-gun states and prosecutors will twist bad laws to put good people in jail for exercising their rights. That’s why we’ve worked with the nation’s top Second Amendment attorneys to draft amendments that would make H.R. 38 a powerful tool for freedom, not a trap. Proud American gun owners must demand that Congress send President Trump a carry bill that actually works,” explained FPC President Brandon Combs. “Congress must act to fix and pass H.R. 38 without delay. Gun owners are counting on them to fulfill their promise.”
Gun owners who want strong nationwide carry protections can join the effort to fix and pass H.R. 38 by visiting PassHR38.com.
3 Most Dangerous Problems with H.R. 38
H.R. 38, while well-intentioned, contains serious flaws that must be addressed before it’s passed, including but not limited to these 3 Most Dangerous Problems with H.R. 38:
Dangerous Problem # 1 – Forgot your wallet? Go to jail.
- Flaw: H.R. 38 currently requires a person to carry a government-issued photo ID and carry license at all times when they are armed. Just forgetting your wallet or purse could lead to serious, life-altering criminal charges, prosecution, and potentially even a lifetime loss of rights.
- FPC fix: Ensure peaceable people aren’t jailed for honest mistakes.
Dangerous Problem # 2 – Legal traps everywhere.
- Flaw: H.R. 38 currently allows states and local governments to ban carry on all public property, defeating the very point of the bill and setting a legal trap for gun owners in these unmarked “gun-free” zones.
- FPC fix: Guarantee carry rights in non-secured public places nationwide.
Dangerous Problem # 3 – The felony under your floormat.
- Flaw: H.R. 38 currently only protects one handgun, one magazine, and only the ammunition loaded into them. Extra magazines or ammunition, a backup firearm, or even a single loose round in a bag or under a floormat wouldn’t be covered—putting gun owners at serious risk of arrest and prosecution.
- FPC fix: Ensure that people are fully protected while carrying and travelling with firearms.
Visit PassHR38.com to Tell Congress to Fix & Pass H.R. 38!
About FPC
Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit membership organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. We work to achieve our strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs. Our FPC Law program is the nation’s preeminent legal action initiative focused on restoring the right to keep and bear arms throughout the United States. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, follow FPC on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook.
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