National Constitutional Carry Act to Protect Right to Carry Firearms in All States: HR 645 2025

[Elderberry]

 Ammoland by F Riehl 1/24/2025

Thomas Massie
@RepThomasMassie

Today, I introduced HR 645, the National Constitutional Carry Act.

No one should have to beg the government to exercise a constitutionally protected right anywhere in the country.



Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) announces the introduction of H.R. 645, the National Constitutional Carry Act. Massie’s constitutional carry legislation will ensure Americans’ Second Amendment right to carry firearms in public spaces is protected throughout the country.

“I’m fortunate to live in a state where people are free to exercise their right to keep and bear arms without begging the government or paying a fee,” said Rep. Thomas Massie.

“Unfortunately, not every American enjoys the same right to carry firearms in public because some states and localities infringe upon this right through a variety of criminal, civil, and regulatory penalties. By prohibiting state or local restrictions on the right to bear arms, H.R. 645 upholds the original purpose of the Second Amendment—to ensure the security of a free state—while safeguarding individual liberties against government infringement.”

Massie’s legislation is composed of two major provisions.

•   The first provision prohibits any state or political subdivision from imposing criminal or civil penalties on eligible individuals carrying firearms in public.

•   The second provision invalidates any existing state or local laws, statutes, regulations, or local restrictions that criminalize, penalize, or otherwise dissuade the carrying of firearms in public.

More: https://www.ammoland.com/2025/01/national-constitutional-carry-act-to-protect-right-to-carry-firearms-in-all-states-hr-645-2025/

[Sighlass]

Think it has a chance? Would be nice even if just to carry a gun through blue states on your way to freedom land elsewhere....

[The_Reader_David]

Sounds good to me.  I think the states should still be able to decide whether you must carry openly or contrarywise forbid open carry and require those with firearms conceal them, according to which of the two seems better to the local culture, so long as they do not prohibit carrying (aka bearing arms).

[verga]

Been hoping for this for a while.

[MeganC]

Sounds good to me.  I think the states should still be able to decide whether you must carry openly or contrarywise forbid open carry and require those with firearms conceal them, according to which of the two seems better to the local culture, so long as they do not prohibit carrying (aka bearing arms).

I disagree. The "local culture" does not get to set the terms for any other rights or else we'd still have slavery and segregation where it suited said local culture.

[Sighlass]

Sounds good to me.  I think the states should still be able to decide whether you must carry openly or contrarywise forbid open carry and require those with firearms conceal them, according to which of the two seems better to the local culture, so long as they do not prohibit carrying (aka bearing arms).

Freedom Baby ! I still carry outside the waistband (OTW) when I carry my 9mm, as a big person it is more comfortable, but if it shows below my shirt or coat I don't want some person reporting me for daring to "open carry".... I would almost bet that those that open carry have a lower crime rate than those that "conceal carry" (nearly 100% of bad guys).

[The_Reader_David]

I disagree. The "local culture" does not get to set the terms for any other rights or else we'd still have slavery and segregation where it suited said local culture.

The militia, the body of armed citizens, is to be well-regulated.  So long as the right to keep and bear arms is not infringed, it may be regulated.  My suggestiong was a very minimal analogue of a manual of arms -- for that matter states could promulgate a manual of arms.

[MeganC]

The militia, the body of armed citizens, is to be well-regulated. 

In the 1700's well regulated meant well trained.

It did NOT mean that firearms are to be controlled by a Byzantine government bureaucracy replete with a maze of conflicting and contradictory laws that make firearms ownership, use, and possession all but impossible. 

[jafo2010]

Long overdue.  And local and state regulations affecting carrying arms is IMHO a violation of the US Constitution.

If more folks carried arms, I believe violent crime waged against society by the criminal element would be greatly reduced.

[MeganC]

Long overdue.  And local and state regulations affecting carrying arms is IMHO a violation of the US Constitution.

If more folks carried arms, I believe violent crime waged against society by the criminal element would be greatly reduced.

An armed society is a polite society.