Following news of the attack on GOP House and Senate baseball players, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) is pushing for national reciprocity for members of Congress.
Breitbart News reported that Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and four others were injured when 66-year-old James Hodgkinson opened fire on those at a Congressional baseball practice. Police shot and killed Hodgkinson.
In light of the attack, Loudermilk believes members of Congress ought to be able to enjoy national reciprocity so that lawmakers with carry permits can have a gun with them for self-defense wherever they are. He said his staff member was in his car when today’s attack occurred and “had a shot on the shooter,” but had no gun.
Loudermilk explained his position to The Hill, saying:
Until you are shot at, you don’t know what the feeling is to be that vulnerable. Someone actively shooting at you; targeting you. Trying to shoot you and you have no way of defending yourself. In Georgia we have a concealed carry law that allows individual citizens to keep a weapon with them and in their car. Had my staff member who was (at Congressional baseball practice) been in Georgia he would have normally carried a weapon in his car.
Americans have been waiting for Congress to take up national reciprocity for everyone–not just Congressional members–since January 3, 2017 — the date on which Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced legislation to make concealed carry permits from one state valid in every state.
Perhaps lawmakers could take up Hudson’s legislation so that all concealed carry permit holders can keep their guns with them for self-defense. That would allow Congressional members with permits to carry as well.
AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and host of Bullets with AWR Hawkins, a Breitbart News podcast. He is also the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.