Two lawmakers in Washington, D.C. have reintroduced legislation that would allow members of the United States armed forces to renew their concealed carry permit by mail if they live outside of their state of residency.
Missouri Republicans Rep. Jason Smith and Sen. Josh Hawley recently reintroduced the U.S. Military Right to Carry Act, which also requires states to treat members of the military equally to state residents in issuing concealed carry permits.
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“There is no reason the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for this country should have to fight through endless bureaucratic hurdles and red tape to maintain their concealed carry licenses,” Hawley said in a release.
An active duty service member from southern Missouri stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina told Smith that he was told by county officials he had to visit the office in person and be physically living in the state of Missouri to complete his conceal carry permit renewal, which was not possible.
“If a member of the U.S. armed forces holds a concealed carry permit, they should be able to renew that permit by mail or be treated as a resident of the state in which they are stationed,” said Smith.
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The legislation also calls for a reduction in a state’s federal grant funding if it refuses to offer military members the options for concealed carry licenses.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.
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