A major gun-rights group has taken the offensive against the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) after those organizations sent a letter to Congress asking lawmakers to reject a national concealed carry reciprocity bill.
“The National Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which collectively represent a majority of rank-and-file officers and police executives, have serious reservations about the impact this legislation would have on officer safety, officer liability, qualified immunity, and state and local gun safety laws,” the letter stated. “The inability to confirm whether someone is lawfully carrying a concealed firearm increases the risk of armed encounters and reduces situational awareness for officers in the field. No officer should be placed at greater risk just because they cannot use common practices— which officers in every jurisdiction are trained to do—when encountering an armed suspect.”
On November 25, Gun Owners of America (GOA) President Tim Macy wrote a letter to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, picking apart the police unions’ criticism of HR 38 point by point.
“After decades of unconstitutional attacks, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act is necessary to restore the Second Amendment right to carry a firearm for self-defense nationwide and without fear of harassment by law enforcement in anti-gun states,” Macy wrote in the letter. “The FOP supports nearly identical protections for law enforcement to carry firearms nationwide, yet it opposes those same protections for ordinary Americans here. That smacks of hypocrisy and elitism. ‘Shall not be infringed’ does not just apply to law enforcement—it is the God-given, constitutionally protected right of the People!”
As Macy further pointed out, the FOP’s opposition to the national reciprocity legislation is out of step with most law enforcement officers throughout the country.
“It must be understood that the FOP has taken a minority position among law enforcement officers, who overwhelmingly support the Second Amendment right to carry,” Macy wrote. “A 2021 survey of chiefs of police and sheriffs nationwide showed almost 90% of respondents supporting concealed carry reciprocity. Furthermore, a survey of more than 14,000 police officers proved that the majority of rank-and-file law enforcement believe that ‘armed citizens’ are the most effective way to stop mass shootings. On behalf of the millions of gun owners and law enforcement officials who support the Second Amendment, we will address and correct each of the Fraternal Order of Police’s concerns.”
What followed were several points disputing FOP’s allegations about the measure, including that states do not have a right to infringe on the Second Amendment, HR 38 does not prevent police from conducting lawful investigations, and HR 38 does not override the Gun Free School Zones Act. The letter also explained how identifying lawful concealed carry is no more difficult than identifying valid driver’s licenses under HR 38, HR 38 will not decrease officer safety but will increase public safety, and HR 38 will not affect officers unless they infringe on the Second Amendment.
“Congress should reject the Fraternal Order of Police’s ill-considered ‘concerns,’” the letter concluded. “The vast majority of law enforcement officers support the Second Amendment right to bear arms for self-defense in public—a right that H.R. 38 seeks to restore for interstate travel. Therefore, we urge you to stand with gun owners and the majority of law enforcement in support of Representative Richard Hudson’s GOA-backed Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025.”
