During his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump announced his support for an expansion of gun rights which include nationwide concealed carry and an elimination of gun and magazine bans. Trump, a concealed carry permit holder himself, has been outspoken about his position during speeches, debates, and through various outlets online which has been appreciated by second amendment supporters across the nation. With Trump in the White House, a Republican Senate, as well as a Republican House to begin in 2017, gun owners could see their second amendment right heavily protected and gun controls lifted over the next four years.
Watch Trump make the statements on CNBC here.
A policy paper released on his website in September 2015 states: ‘The right of self-defense doesn’t stop at the end of your driveway. That’s why I have a concealed carry permit and why tens of millions of Americans do too. That permit should be valid in all 50 states. A driver’s license works in every state, so it’s common sense that a concealed carry permit should work in every state. If we can do that for driving – which is a privilege, not a right – then surely we can do that for concealed carry, which is a right, not a privilege.”
The NRA has supported Donald Trump throughout his campaign.
“Gun and magazine bans are a total failure,” Trump’s second amendment statement continues. “That’s been proven every time it’s been tried. Opponents of gun rights try to come up with scary sounding phrases like ‘assault weapons’, ‘military-style weapons’ and ‘high capacity magazines’ to confuse people. What they’re really talking about are popular semiautomatic rifles and standard magazines that are owned by tens of millions of Americans. Law-abiding people should be allowed to own the firearm of their choice. The government has no business dictating what types of firearms good, honest people are allowed to own.”
There are some specific actions that many expect may take place once President-elect Trump takes office. For one, Trump has been an advocate of ending gun-free zones on military bases. As President, Trump will have the authority to pass an executive order allowing service members to carry while on base.
This would be a tremendous step forward for military members who have felt increasingly threatened as attacks have continued to happen on bases across the country. Dozens of lives have been lost because the gun-free zones on military bases that make service members unable to protect themselves from gunmen. The 2009 and 2014 shootings at Fort Hood are perfect examples of why such a ban needs to be lifted, and Trump could very well be the one to do it.
In addition to lifting the ban on carrying on military bases, Trump’s presidency may make National right to carry reciprocity a reality. Currently, because of heavily restrictive gun laws, each state’s right to carry permits needs special permission to be recognized across state lines. There are currently four House and Senate bills on the table which means, with his Republican support in the House, legislation could get passed very quickly once Trump arrives in office.
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