Sec. 6. Reciprocity for the carrying of handguns
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Chapter 44 of title 18, United States Code, is further amended by inserting after section 926D the following: Notwithstanding any provision of the law of any State or political subdivision thereof (except as provided in subsection (b)) and subject only to the requirements of this section, a person who is not prohibited by Federal law from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm, who is carrying a valid identification document containing a photograph of the person, and who is carrying a valid license or permit which is issued pursuant to the law of a State and which permits the person to carry a handgun or is entitled to carry a handgun in the State in which the person resides, may possess or carry a handgun (other than a machine gun or destructive device) that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, in any State that— has a statute under which residents of the State may apply for a license or permit to carry a handgun; or does not prohibit the carrying of handguns by residents of the State for lawful purposes.
This section shall not be construed to supersede or limit the laws of any State that— permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the possession of handguns on their property; or prohibit or restrict the possession of handguns on any State or local government property, installation, building, base, or park. A person who carries or possesses a handgun in accordance with subsections
(a)and
(b)may not be arrested or otherwise detained for violation of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof related to the possession, transportation, or carrying of firearms unless there is probable cause to believe that the person is doing so in a manner not provided for by this section. Presentation of facially valid documents as specified in subsection
(a)is prima facie evidence that the individual has a license or permit as required by this section. When a person asserts this section as a defense in a criminal proceeding, the prosecution shall bear the burden of proving, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the conduct of the person did not satisfy the conditions set forth in subsections
(a)and (b). When a person successfully asserts this section as a defense in a criminal proceeding, the court shall award the prevailing defendant a reasonable attorney’s fee. A person who is deprived of any right, privilege, or immunity secured by this section, under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage of any State or any political subdivision thereof, may bring an action in any appropriate court against any other person, including a State or political subdivision thereof, who causes the person to be subject to the deprivation, for damages or other appropriate relief. The court shall award a plaintiff prevailing in an action brought under paragraph
(1)damages and such other relief as the court deems appropriate, including a reasonable attorney’s fee. In subsection (a): The term identification document means a document made or issued by or under the authority of the United States Government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State which, when completed with information concerning a particular individual, is of a type intended or commonly accepted for the purpose of identification of individuals. The term handgun includes any magazine for use in a handgun and any ammunition loaded into the handgun or its magazine. A person who possesses or carries a handgun under subsection
(a)shall not be subject to the prohibitions of section 922(q) with respect to that handgun. A person possessing or carrying a handgun in a State under subsection
(a)may do so in any of the following areas in the State that are open to the public: A unit of the National Park System. A unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Public land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management. Land administered and managed by the Army Corps of Engineers. Land administered and managed by the Bureau of Reclamation. Land administered and managed by the Forest Service. . The table of sections for such chapter is further amended by inserting after the item relating to section 926D the following: 926E. Reciprocity for the carrying of handguns. . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, if any provision of this section, or any amendment made by this section, or the application of such provision or amendment to any person or circumstance is held to be unconstitutional, this section and amendments made by this section and the application of such provision or amendment to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby. The amendments made by this section shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.