The advancement of a national concealed carry bill has hit a snag as various Second Amendment advocacy groups, the White House, and Congress members grapple over conflicting versions of a bill. President Trump voiced his support for a “right to carry” during a speech in Reading, Pennsylvania. However, the path to passage looks tricky given the competing legislation in play. The National Rifle Association (NRA) backs HR38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025, introduced by Republican Congressman Richard Hudson from North Carolina. Additionally, there’s another bill on the table: the National Constitution Carry Act, brought forth by Republican Representative Thomas Massey of Kentucky.
NRA representatives communicated to the Daily Caller News Foundation that while they are keen on enforcing the Constitution, they believe they lack sufficient votes to push Massey’s proposed bill forward, mentioning that H.R. 38 is currently out of committee. Hudson did not provide comments regarding Trump’s statements in Reading.
HR 38 lays out the criteria for legal concealed carry across state lines and would supersede most state and local regulations. It boasts 189 co-sponsors but was not reported by the House Judiciary Committee in October 2025, after its introduction on January 3, 2025.
Conversely, HR 645, put forward by Massey on January 23, 2025, aims to set a national standard for constitutional carry, a model already adopted by 29 states. This bill, recommended by the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), would override all state and local requirements concerning permits for carrying firearms. Anyone eligible to purchase a firearm would also be allowed to carry one.
Massey voiced skepticism in an interview, suggesting that some proposals merely mimic his National Constitution Enforcement Act, which has garnered over 70 sponsors.
Presently, states follow a “shall issue” guideline for concealed carry permits, yet discrepancies exist regarding which out-of-state permits are recognized.
NAGR Communications Director Taylor Rose remarked that Massey’s proposal is “cleaner” compared to the NRA-endorsed H.R. 38. Rose argued that Americans, regardless of where they live, should be able to carry any handgun they are legally permitted to purchase. “Reciprocity is [HR 38] a deep dive into permitting systems across America, and we just don’t believe in it,” she added, voicing concerns about what a less favorable administration might enact regarding Second Amendment rights.
“That opens the door to a slippery slope, while constitutional carry would ease restrictions all around,” Rose explained.
A White House representative informed DCNF that there are “no additional policy announcements” following Trump’s comments in Pennsylvania, although he acknowledged NRA Chairman Bill Bachenberg positively.
The White House did not respond regarding which bill it favors. Press Secretary Abigail Jackson stated that President Trump consistently supports the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. She affirmed that the Trump administration will continue to defend Americans’ right to bear arms.
Trump implied in a recent conversation with Bachenberg that he would endorse the National Carry Bill of Rights. He also expressed appreciation for the NRA’s longstanding support since the outset of his administration.
For decades, the NRA has advocated for various forms of concealed carry reciprocity, particularly after right-to-carry laws were enacted in many states during the 1990s. However, passing such measures in Congress has repeatedly stalled, with the Senate filibuster requiring 60 votes being a significant obstacle.
The Supreme Court has yet to announce its decision on the case of Wolford v. Lopez, which revolves around a Hawaii law mandating that private property owners who permit concealed carry must display clear signage indicating so. Advocates for gun rights have labeled this the “vampire law,” referencing the notion that vampires need explicit invitations to enter homes.
A ruling by a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit determined in May that a provision requiring New York property owners to post signs for concealed carry was unconstitutional. This decision follows the Supreme Court’s move to overturn New York’s discretionary system for issuing concealed carry permits, leading states like California and Maryland to adopt similar laws.
