National Constitutional Carry Act

Summary

Amends federal law to prohibit states, territories, and localities from criminalizing or otherwise penalizing the public carrying of firearms by U.S. citizens (residents or nonresidents) who are otherwise legally permitted to possess firearms under federal and state law. It also declares conflicting state or local rules to have no force or effect, defines “public” for purposes of the prohibition, and preserves private-property owners’ clear, conspicuous bans and specified screening exceptions. The bill includes non‑operational congressional findings about Supreme Court Second Amendment decisions but contains no new federal funding or criminal penalties beyond the preemption of state and local laws.

• Creates a federal prohibition on state and local laws that criminalize or deter public carry by legally eligible U.S. citizens.
• Declares conflicting state and local statutes, ordinances, and customs to have no force or effect.
• Defines "public" broadly as places held open to the public but preserves private-owner bans that are clearly posted and state-authorized screening exceptions.
• Applies to the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and U.S. possessions (except the Canal Zone).
• Includes non‑operative congressional findings summarizing Supreme Court Second Amendment rulings.
• Does not create new federal spending, programs, or a federal criminal offense for carrying.
• Directly limits state and local regulatory authority over where and how firearms may be carried in public.
• Likely to prompt litigation over the scope of preemption, definitions (e.g., "public"), and interactions with other state laws (permits, licensing, restrictions).