A bill that would force states to accept the concealed-carry handgun standards of other states could prove harmful to Pennsylvanians, writes U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In an editorial published in the Inquirer, Costello explains that under the bill that came to the House floor in December, an individual who crossed into any other state with a concealed-carry handgun would only have to be in compliance with the standards of the state in which they reside. This is true even in situations where standards of that state are nonexistent, or much weaker than the state they are visiting.

“I opposed this policy because I was concerned about forcing Pennsylvanians to accept any weaker concealed carry standards that other states may have approved,” wrote Costello.

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Costello notes that under Pennsylvania law, law enforcement officials have the right to screen applicants for concealed carry permits for red flags, including violent behavior. However, many states do not have the same or even any standards.

“Pennsylvanians should be comfortable knowing that they can set their own standards for carrying concealed, loaded handguns in public,” wrote Costello.

Read more about concealed carry handguns in the Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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