NSSF Praises U.S. House Passage of National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill with Fix NICS Provisions
NEWTOWN, Conn. — The National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®), the trade association for the firearms, ammunition and related industries, praised today’s 231 to 198 vote passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 (H.R. 38), as amended to include legislative provisions to “Fix NICS,” which have long been a priority for the organization.
“With House passage today of H.R. 38, we have cleared a major hurdle toward what will be two major achievements for America’s law-abiding gun owners and for our federally-licensed firearms retailers,” said Lawrence Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel. “This legislation provides a solution to the confusing patchwork of concealed carry laws and ensures that our citizens’ Second Amendment rights do not end at the state line.”
“Federally licensed firearms retailers rely upon the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to be accurate in preventing the sale and transfer of firearms to prohibited persons. The Fix NICS Act provisions included in the legislation passed today builds on the successes of NSSF’s FixNICS® campaign to encourage states to enter all applicable disqualifying records into the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) and requires federal agencies to properly report relevant records and hold those who fail to do so accountable,” Keane said.
“On behalf of our members, NSSF would like to recognize Congressmen Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), John Culberson (R-Texas) and Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) for their bipartisan leadership in advancing this important legislation,” Keane concluded.