By Tanya Metaksa
Constitutional Carry in 2024
With the passage of SB1 in Louisiana well over 50 percent of the states have now passed “constitutional carry” legislation.
Fourteen years ago only two states had such laws—Vermont and Alaska. No one in 2010 thought that adding 26 states would happen so quickly. This year one more state, South Carolina, is still negotiating differences between the House and Senate versions with the hope that a bill can be passed in 2024. That would leave another 21 states remaining.
Let’s recap what state constitutional carry really means. Most states have not eliminated carry permits because of the interstate reciprocity that a permit may enable. Thus many gun owners have maintained their current permits to travel within the US with several notable exceptions. Additionally, any person with a felony conviction or who would be unable to pass a background check to purchase a firearm does not qualify for constitutional carry.
What’s New—Colorado: More committee hearings for HB 24-1174 and HB24-1310. Also introduced are HB24-1348, which requires firearms in unattended vehicles to be locked and out of view, and HB24-1349. More committee hearings for HB 24-1174, increasing training requirement for concealed carry permits, and HB24-1310, prohibits teachers and school professionals from carrying a concealed firearm on school grounds; Louisiana: On Feb. 28 the House passed SB1, a constitutional carry bill. Governor Jeff Landry has promised to sign the bill into law, and it will go into effect on July 4; Florida: The House passed HB1223 by a vote of 76-35 and HB1615 by a vote of 86-23. Georgia: HB1018, prohibiting the use of firearm-specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components, passed the House on a 106-60 vote. Idaho: SB1291, prohibits public contracts with individuals or companies that are boycotting certain industries, including the firearms industry passed the Senate 28-7; Indiana: Two pro-gun bills were passed in the Senate: HB1084, and HB1235; Iowa: HF2464, prohibiting the use of firearm specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components and is a successor to HSB671, will be before the Senate Commerce Committee this week; Kentucky: On Tuesday, Feb. 27, the House passed House Bill 357, prohibiting the use of firearm specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components. by a vote of 78-18; Maine: A Save the Second Amendment Rally is being held at the Maine State House on March 7, 2024, at 10:00AM; Minnesota: Two mandatory safe storage bills before the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee on Feb.29: Nebraska: LB925 and LB1339 are awaiting floor votes and LB883 is awaiting a vote in the Judiciary Committee; South Dakota: On Feb. 26 Senate Bill 203 passed House Judiciary Committee. Today and HB1228, allowing hunters to wear fluorescent pink as an alternative to hunter orange passed the Senate and now goes to Governor Kristi Noem; Tennessee: On Tuesday, March 5, three separate committees are hearing gun bills; Vermont: On Feb. 27 the Senate put SB209, requiring serialization of firearms parts and other ghost gun bans, on its Action Calendar allowing votes by the Senate; Washington: On Feb. 27 HB2118, putting costly requirements on FFLs, has passed the Senate, while SB5444 expanding “sensitive places,” another euphemism for “gun-free zones,” has passed in the House. Wyoming: SF105, prohibiting the use of firearm-specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components, was passed in the Senate with no opposition and the House Judiciary Committee has scheduled an 8 AM meeting on March 4.
Legislation and local communities
States that do NOT hold legislative sessions in 2024: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas,
States that are in session: Arizona, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Colorado: More committee hearings for HB 24-1174 and HB24-1310. Also introduced are HB24-1348, which requires firearms in unattended vehicles to be locked and out of view, and HB24-1349. More committee hearings for HB 24-1174, increasing training requirement for concealed carry permits, and HB24-1310, prohibits teachers and school professionals from carrying a concealed firearm on school grounds.
Florida: The House passed HB1223, allowing young adults to acquire firearms, by a vote of 76-35 and HB1615, repealed laws that take effect during a state or local emergency—intentional possession of a firearm in public, sale of firearms or ammunition, and the display of firearms or ammunition in a store, by a vote of 86-23. These bills now go on to the Florida Senate.
Georgia: HB1018, prohibiting the use of firearm-specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components, passed the House on a 106-60 vote. It now goes to the Senate.
Idaho: SB1291, prohibits public contracts with individuals or companies that are boycotting certain industries, including the firearms industry passed the Senate 28-7.
Indiana: Two pro-gun bills were passed in the Senate:HB1084, the Second Amendment Privacy Act, which bans the use of firearm-related Merchant Category Codes, andHB1235, a bill to prohibit local governments from suing firearms manufacturers frivolously. Since there were some differences between the House and Senate versions,
HB1084 goes to a conference committee. HB 1235 goes to the House for a floor vote.
Iowa: HF2464, prohibiting the use of firearm specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components and is a successor to HSB671, will be before the Senate Commerce Committee this week.
Kentucky: On March 1 SB13, a red flag bill was referred to the Senate Veteran, Military Affairs, and Public Protection Committee. On Tuesday, February 27th, the House passed House Bill 357, prohibiting the use of firearm_specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components. by a vote of 78-18.
Louisiana: On Feb. 28 the House passed SB1, a constitutional carry bill giving 18-20 year-olds their Second Amendment rights, on a 75-28 vote. Governor Jeff Landry in his opening remarks at the start of the Special Session said: “While criminals carry guns without regard for the law, lawful gun owners are our most law-abiding citizens. Their armed presence helps deter violent crime. It is time Louisiana joined 27 other states that have created a constitutional right to carry a firearm without the government’s permission. This body has repeatedly passed it. Now you have a governor who will sign it.”
The effective date is July 4. The 2024 Regular Legislative Session will convene at noon on Monday, March 11, with the final Adjournment no later than 6:00 pm on Monday, June 3. According to the Louisiana Freedom Caucus: “The bill allows for law-abiding citizens over the age of 18 to exercise their 2nd Amendment rights in Louisiana. It also leaves the concealed carry permit structure in place for those desirous of reciprocity with participating states.”
Maine: A Save the Second Amendment Rally is being held at the Maine State House on March 7, at 10 AM. Following the rally supporters will move to the Judiciary Committee Public Hearing at 11:30 AM. Other committee hearings are scheduled for March 4—LD2237, adding a new “Office of Violence Prevention”; in State House, Room 126; March 5—LD2086, redefining “machine guns” to include semi-automatic firearms and firearms’ parts; in State House Room 438; March 7, LD2224, a methodology for Maine citizens to waive their Second Amendment rights in State House Room 438.
Michigan: HB4128, third reading on the House floor with a substitute (S1) which is included in SJ20 as of Feb. 28.
Minnesota: The following bills had a hearing before the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee on Feb.29: HB601, requiring lost or stolen firearms to be reported to law enforcement, and HF4300, mandating safe storage in the home. HF3570 has been referred to the House Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy. This bill is a bill that bans anti-semiautomatic “military assault weapons”.Three more anti-gun bills have been introduced: HF3672, repealing state preemption, HF3628, banning the possession, sale, and transfer of most commonly owned semi-automatic rifles, many shotguns, and some pistols as well as “high capacity” magazines, and SF3477, prohibiting carry of firearms in libraries, currently before the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. The following bills are currently re-referred to the Ways and Means Committee: HF0014, background checks required for all firearms transfers, HF0015, law enforcement, and family members added to the list of persons enabled to petition a court for disarmament,and HF396, a safe storage bill. New Hampshire: On February 22 the House passed HB1186, prohibiting the use of firearm-specific merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition, and components. Also on Feb. 22, the House voted down HB1050, a bill allowing citizens to waive their Second Amendment right, 205-175.. On February 15, the Senate failed to pass the following bills: SB360, a red flag law, SB571, requiring state background checks, and SB577, imposing a three-day waiting period.
Nebraska: LB883, repealing the permit to purchase,which had a hearing earlier this year is now ready to be voted on in the Judiciary Committee. Two bills are now eligible for floor votes: LB925, a bill to prohibit public contracts with those that boycott certain industries, and LB1339, allowing teachers and staff to carry on school grounds.
South Dakota: On Feb. 26 Senate Bill 203 passed House Judiciary Committee and HB1228, allowing hunters to wear fluorescent pink as an alternative to hunter orange passed the Senate and now goes to Gov. Kristi Noem.
Tennessee: On Tuesday, March 5, three separate committees are hearing gun bills. House Banking & Consumer Affairs Subcommittee at 1:30 pm: HB2762, Prohibiting the use of firearm specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition and components. Senate Judiciary Committee at 3 pm: SJR904, a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Tennessee stating, “That the citizens of this State have a right to keep, bear, and wear arms.” Additionally, several anti-gun bills are also being heard: SB1695 and SB1927, allowing local governments to dictate firearms storage laws; SB2449 and SB2475, prohibiting the manufacture, sale or transfer of unfinished frames and receivers. Finally the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee at 12:00 pm: HB1587, prohibiting the manufacture of popular sporting firearms; HB1589, prohibiting magazines with more than 10 rounds; HB1592, creates an offense if firearms owner fails to report lost or stolen firearms within 24 hours; HB1593, mandating universal background checks; HB1935, prohibits sale of certain semi-automatic firearms; and HB2277, prohibits young adults from purchasing firearms.
Vermont: On Feb. 27 the Senate put SB209, requiring serialization of firearms parts and other ghost gun bans, on its Action Calendar allowing votes by the Senate..
Washington: On Feb. 27 HB2118, putting costly requirements on FFLs, has passed the Senate, while SB5444 expanding “sensitive places,” another euphemism for “gun-free zones,” has passed in the House.
Wyoming: SF105, prohibiting the use of firearm-specific-merchant category codes by payment processors for firearms, ammunition and components, was passed in the Senate with no opposition. The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled an 8 a.m. meeting on March 4.
