"House to vote on concealed weapons reciprocity bill next week"

A news report on this is available here.

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill next week that would require states to accept concealed weapons permits issued in other states.

The measure already has the support of more than half the representatives in the House so it's likely to pass. It could significantly affect who authorities allow to carry a gun in Minnesota. Right now, Minnesota's Department of Public Safety only recognizes concealed carry permits from 15 states.

Department officials say laws in the remaining states, including neighbors North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin, aren't similar enough to Minnesota's concealed weapons law to grant reciprocity. U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack is one of the five Minnesota House members who back a bipartisan bill that would require all states to recognize concealed carry permits issued elsewhere.

Cravaack, a Republican, knows firsthand the problems that states' different laws pose for gun owners. He has a concealed carry permit and frequently drives to Wisconsin to visit his in-laws. "I have to take my weapon, take the bullets out of the weapon, put it in the trunk separated from the ammo," Cravaack said. "It's a little bit of a hassle. But at the same time, if I have a permit to carry, it should be respected in all the different states." . . .