Mitch McConnell’s Approval Rating Plummets As National Reciprocity Languishes

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) approval rating is plummeting among Kentuckians as national reciprocity languishes on the sidelines.

National reciprocity for concealed carry was introduced by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) on January 3, 2017, and a companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX). The bills would treat concealed carry permits like driver’s licenses, thereby fixing the cumbersome patchwork of concealed carry laws that must now be confronted by law-abiding citizens who drive state to state.

For example, a concealed permit holder from Kentucky can carry his gun for self-defense in Indiana and Missouri, but cannot legally carry it for self-defense in Illinois.  This makes a concealed carry permit holder’s drive from Louisville, Kentucky, to St. Louis, Missouri, difficult at best, as I-64 cuts through Indiana and Illinois before reaching St. Louis. National reciprocity would fix this mess by making the permit of one state valid in every state.

Yet McConnell has been on the sidelines for this one.  In fact, on August 13, Breitbart News reported that McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) were both mum on national reciprocity.

A poll from Public Policy Polling shows that McConnell’s approval rating among Kentuckians sits at 18 percent. The questions in the poll revolve around McConnell’s failure to lead on healthcare, yet, in pro-gun Kentucky, inaction on a Second Amendment agenda is not going to help.

Gun Owners of America’s executive director Erich Pratt spoke to Breitbart News about McConnell’s inaction on national reciprocity, saying:

There is tremendous angst in the grassroots right now.  We hear constantly from our members and activists who are asking, “Why hasn’t Congress done anything with concealed carry reciprocity?” No one wants to see any more Shaneen Allen’s, who are raked over the legal coals, simply because they were peacefully exercising their right to bear arms in a neighboring state.

Reciprocity bills have been introduced in Congress for over a decade.  It’s time to send this legislation to President Trump’s desk—who has promised to sign it!

By the way, people might now understand why Gun Owners of America supported Mitch McConnell’s opponent, Matt Bevin, in the 2014 primary. Kentucky is an extremely pro-gun state—just look at its other Senator, Rand Paul. There’s no reason why the Blue Grass State should fail to send a pro-gun Senator to Washington who is cut from the same cloth as Sen. Paul.

Breitbart News reached out to McConnell’s office but received no comment.

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.