2017: Schweikert Voted To Require Concealed Carry Reciprocity Between The States. In December 2017, Schweikert voted for legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "permit[ted] any individual authorized by their home state to carry a concealed handgun to also carry that concealed weapon in any other state that permits the carrying of concealed weapons. The bill would [have] require[d] a twice-annual certification by all federal agencies, federal courts and state governments, in coordination with the Department of Justice, to verify that all relevant data has been reported and uploaded to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System regarding individuals who are not eligible to purchase firearms." The vote was on passage. The House adopted the bill by a vote of 231 to 198. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation. [House Vote 663, 12/6/17; Congressional Quarterly, 12/6/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 38]
Bill Opponents Fear That The Bill Would Undermine Local Laws, Essentially Allowing The Loosest Gun Laws To Prevail. According to Vox, "Yet the bill's critics say it undermines state and local laws, effectively forcing states or municipalities with higher restrictions to hew to the loosest laws, regardless of individual states' public safety needs. The common analogy, which New York City officials immediately brought up: armed tourists in Times Square. On New Year's Eve." [Vox, 12/11/17]
35 States Prevent Those With Misdemeanor Domestic Abuse From Getting A Concealed Carry Permit, But Those Same People Could Get A License In One Of The 15 Other States. According to Vox, "For example, according to data from Everytown for Gun Safety (which opposes the bill), 35 states and DC prevent significant others who are convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse from obtaining concealed carry permits. Under the House bill, those people could potentially get a permit in a less restrictive state and it would be valid everywhere." [Vox, 12/11/17]
One Study Found A Correlation (But Not Causation) Between 'May Issue' States And Lower Homicide Rate. And According to Vox, "A 2017 analysis led by Michael Siegel of Boston University's School of Public Heath analyzed 'shall issue' and 'may issue' states from 1991 to 2015, and found that 'may issue' states --- those that tend to have stricter standards --- had a lower homicide rate than 'shall issue' states. 'Shall issue' states were associated with 6.5 percent higher total homicide rates, an 8.6 percent higher firearm homicide rate, and a 10.6 percent higher handgun homicide rate than in 'may issue' states. (Permitless states were left out of the study.)" [Vox, 12/11/17]
Bill Proponents See The Bill As A Way To Nullify Strict Local Gun Laws. According to Vox, "Gun control advocates, on the other hand, see this simplification as akin to a nullification of the strongest gun laws. Tough states would have to honor permits from visitors who, if they were residents, wouldn't legally be able to carry a weapon. Under the House (but not Senate) version of the bill, states would also have to honor reciprocity for non-resident permits, meaning those who don't meet the legal requirements in their home state could now obtain a non-resident permit to carry." [Vox, 12/11/17]
Legislation Also Requires The DoJ To Study The Use Of Bump Stocks. According to Vox, "The legislation also requires the Justice Department to study --- but not ban --- the use of bump stocks, which can turn semiautomatic firearms into machine gun-type weapons. (The Las Vegas gunman outfitted his gun with this device.)" [Vox, 12/11/17]
2024: Schweikert Voted To Allow Off-Duty And Retired Law Enforcement Officers To Carry Concealed Guns Across State Lines And In School Zones, National Parks, And Public Transit And To Allow States To Decrease Training Requirements For Retired Officers. In May 2024, Schweikert voted for , according to Congressional Quarterly, "the bill that would expand the authority for qualified active and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed handguns across state lines and into specified areas. It would allow such officers (regardless of whether they are on or off-duty) to carry concealed firearms and ammunition (including magazines) into school zones, national parks, certain federal facilities open to the public along with state, local or private property open to the public and onto public modes of transportation (including land, rail and water transportation --- but not commercial aircraft). It also would allow states to extend, from between 12 to 36 months, the frequency with which retired law enforcement officers must meet certain training certifications." The House passed the bill by a vote of 221 to 185. [House Vote 213, 5/16/24; Congressional Quarterly, 5/16/24; Congressional Actions, H.R. 354]
2017: Schweikert Effectively Voted Against Restricting A Proposed Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill From Applying To Those Who Have Been Convicted Of A Violent Crime Within The Last Three Years If The State Already Prohibited The Person From Doing So. In December 2017, Schweikert effectively voted against an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, "prohibit[ed] a person who has been convicted of a violent crime within the preceding three years from possessing or carrying a concealed handgun in a state where that conviction would otherwise prohibit that individual from doing so." The underlying bill would have, also according to Congressional Quarterly, "permit[ted] any individual authorized by their home state to carry a concealed handgun to also carry that concealed weapon in any other state that permits the carrying of concealed weapons." The vote was on a motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 190 to 236. [House Vote 662, 12/6/17; Congressional Quarterly, 12/6/17; Congressional Quarterly, 12/6/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 38]