Press Releases

Congresswoman Frederica S.Wilson issued the following statement after the House passed the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act:

"Today the U.S. House of Representatives took a step toward making our country a more dangerous place. House Republicans, in a largely party line vote, passed the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which will force every state in the nation to recognize concealed carry standards from every other state.

"Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia currently prohibit individuals convicted of violent misdemeanors from obtaining concealed carry permits. But if H.R. 38 becomes law, someone from another state who would be ineligible to carry a concealed weapon in Florida will be able to do so.

"It is as if they have forgotten that just two months ago in Las Vegas, 58 people were killed and 546 were injured in the deadliest mass shooting in recent history. A month later, 26 people were shot and killed in a rural Texas church. Last year, in my home state, 50 people were killed at an Orlando nightclub and next week will mark the fifth anniversary of the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 children dead.

"Given the unprecedentedly high level of gun violence in this country, passing such a bill defies logic. Yet, instead of passing measures to keep Americans safer, such as banning bump stocks, House Republicans have chosen to undermine states' rights and put the lives of their constituents and mine at risk. And adding insult to injury, they tied their heinous bill to bipartisan legislation that aims to strengthen the nation's criminal background check system.

"I don't get it and hope and pray that Senate lawmakers don't either and overwhelmingly reject this bill."