GIFFORDS condemns Trump’s push for national right-to-carry legislation

WASHINGTON —  GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention group led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement after Trump made comments at an event yesterday praising the National Rifle Association (NRA) and promising national right‑to‑carry legislation. Such legislation would undercut states’ rights by forcing states to allow people to carry hidden, loaded guns without meeting state or local safety standards. Last year, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) both announced strong opposition to a national concealed carry reciprocity mandate.

“Concealed carry reciprocity is a dangerously reckless proposal, and would jeopardize the lives of children, families and police. People who should not have guns, who have no training or who have never passed a background check would be able to carry concealed weapons in every community, no questions asked,” said GIFFORDS Executive Director Emma Brown. “Such a law rewards states with the weakest gun laws and punishes those that have taken meaningful steps to reduce crime, overriding the will of voters and running over states’ rights. The majority of Americans live in states that require a permit to carry loaded concealed guns in public, but this mandate would ignore those laws so the gun industry can sell more guns. Donald Trump says he cares about fighting crime, but this move would make communities less safe, arm criminals and traffickers and lead to more gun deaths. GIFFORDS won’t let him continue to put Americans in harm’s way without a fight.”