(JUNEAU) - Governor Frank Murkowski signed House Bill 177 into law on Wednesday. Sponsored by Rep. Bill Stoltze (R-Chugiak/Mat-Su), HB 177 clarifies the procedure for recognizing concealed handgun permits from other states.

"Our handgun law made sense on the surface," Stoltze said. "However, our refusal to recognize some permit holders from other states is really more technical and bureaucratic, and, it is a barrier to reciprocity."

Current Alaska law refuses to recognize permit holders from other states who have had a permit denied or revoked. For example, Texas, the second most populous state in the nation, refuses to recognize Alaska handgun permit holders. HB 177 recognizes all permit holders from other states as valid permit holders in Alaska, and requires the Alaska Department of Public Safety to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states when such an agreement benefits Alaska permit holders.

"Alaska gun owners stand to benefit from this small but important change," Stoltze said. "Enhanced acceptance of Alaska permits will grant Alaskans greater freedom for when and where they choose to carry personal protection."

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