When Donald Trump is sworn into the Presidency in January, 2017, he will be greeted with various gun-reform measures already filed in Congress. Furthermore, he may have the chance to carry out some of his published policy positions on gun rights through Executive Orders.
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act nearly two years ago that would have allowed individuals with a state-issued concealed carry license to carry concealed in any state in the country, subject to each state’s particular restrictions. The bill (S.498) has been languishing in the Senate Committee on the Judiciary ever since. In the House, Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) introduced H.R.923 as the House’s version of Cornyn’s bill. It, too, has been languishing in the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.
With a Republican controlled Congress, it is expected that these bills will advance and may wind upon the new President’s desk in the near future.
In addition, in 2015, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Rep. Richard Nugent (R-FL) introduced H.R.986 and H.R.402 respectively, similar versions of constitutional carry reciprocity. Those bills, too, are still in a House subcommittee awaiting action.
Another measure that may find the light of day is H.R.3799, the Hearing Protection Act of 2015, introduced by Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) last fall. It is still in the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. Under this proposed legislation, suppressors would be removed from the NFA list of items requiring the $200 transfer tax and would thereby “treat any person who acquires or possesses a firearm silencer as meeting any registration or licensing requirements of the National Firearms Act with respect to such silencer.”
Another piece of legislation that was introduced in 2015 and is still in committee is H.R.2611, the Collectible Firearms Protection Act introduced in June of 2015 by Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) that would allow the re-importation of historically significant firearms, such as M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, and M1911 pistols. President Obama had issued an Executive Order that banned the importation of these firearms.
In addition to pending legislation, a President Trump would be able to issue Executive Orders of his own to further the gun-rights of law-abiding citizens.
President Trump will have the executive authority to pass an executive order allowing the United States military to carry firearms on duty at domestic military bases and facilities. Trump has said he intends to do just that upon taking office.
Furthermore, in his published policy position on the Second Amendment, Trump said that he would work with the Senate and House on legislation to close the gaping holes in the existing background check system so that it is more effective, ensuring better and more accurate updating of prohibited persons in conjunction with mental health reform to help persons in crisis, instead of expanding background checks.
A Republican Congress and President Trump can pass these measures within the first 90-180 days, but they are not the only laws being considered.
We will follow the progress of these issues as they develop.
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