Congressman Boyle Condemns Passage of Dangerous Bill to Override Local Gun Protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would force each state to recognize the concealed carry permit standards of every other state, even those that have dramatically weaker standards or none at all. The bill passed the House by a vote of 231-198:

"This bill is a nightmare. Quite simply, it strips local communities of their right to enforce their own gun safety laws, and leaves our public vulnerable to violence by inviting dangerous individuals to carry hidden, loaded weapons beyond the reach of local law enforcement. It is an absolute disgrace that just weeks after two of the worst mass shootings in our history and one week shy of the solemn five year anniversary of the Newtown school shooting, the only vote on gun legislation that Republican leaders will allow is a giant Christmas gift to the NRA that would weaken oversight, nullify states' rights, and destroy hard-fought progress on preventing gun deaths. As part of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, a husband, and a father, I am deeply disturbed by this bill and remain fully committed to pursuing sensible, lifesaving gun violence prevention legislation."

###