Legislation to allow conceal and carry across state lines

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) -  It's called The Respecting States' Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2013. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R) proposed it in an effort to strengthen conceal and carry laws.

However, not everybody agrees. Paul Helmke, the former president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said it's an infringement on States' Rights.

"We ought to be respecting what we want to do in Indiana, and other states should have the right to decide what type of person they want carrying a gun in their state," Helmke said.

Rep. Stutzman released a statement that said the proposed legislation would not force states to get a conceal carry law if they don't have one nor would it supersede already existing state law.

"The right to self-defense is the cornerstone of the Second Amendment and my responsibility as a father to keep my family safe doesn't change when I cross state lines," Stutzman said.

Some states like Vermont have more lax laws that don't require people to have permits to conceal and carry while other states like Illinois don't allow conceal and carry at all. Some people said if this was to become law, there should be some sort of compromise such as making a nationwide minimum standard for acquiring a permit.

There are states that already do honor permits from other states, and Indiana is one of them. This law would not affect the policies of non-conceal and carry states and districts like Illinois and Washington, D.C.