The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday allowing concealed carry gun permits to be valid in any state that issues permits.
There are 10 states that do not recognize out-of-state concealed carry permits. Most of those states have a higher level of requirements for the issue of permits. Permit holders in California, for example, must demonstrate a specific need for a concealed carry permit for local law enforcement officials.
The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act cleared the House with a 231-198 vote, including a vote in favor cast by Montana’s lone congressman, Rep. Greg Gianforte, who is also one of the bill’s 213 co-sponsors.
Montana requires concealed carry permit holders to have some type of firearms training such as a hunter’s safety course and undergo a background check performed by county sheriff’s offices. Permits from 43 states are recognized in Montana, including all 10 states that do not recognize any out-of-state permits. Vermont does not issue concealed carry permits.
According to the Montana Office of the Attorney General’s website, several states — Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia — do not require background checks for concealed carry permit applicants. Those permits are not recognized in Montana.
Montana’s concealed carry permits are not recognized by eight states in addition to the 10 that do not accept out-of-state concealed carry permits.