A major shift is underway in the national conversation surrounding concealed carry and the Second Amendment. In a striking development, three prominent federal judges have publicly argued in favor of nationwide concealed carry, citing the confusion and danger posed by America’s patchwork of gun laws when traveling across state lines.

In a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed, Judges Elizabeth Branch (11th Circuit), Robert Wilkins (D.C. Circuit), and Trevor McFadden (D.C. District Court) endorsed Senator Tom Cotton’s Protect Our Prosecutors and Judges Act. The proposal would allow federal judges and prosecutors who complete firearms training to carry concealed nationwide—similar to existing protections under LEOSA for law enforcement.

Their argument is simple but powerful: judges travel frequently, face credible threats, and are often forced to disarm due to inconsistent state laws. In doing so, they unintentionally underscore the very problem gun owners have raised for decades—constitutional rights should not disappear at state borders.

While the proposal would apply only to judges and prosecutors, its broader impact cannot be ignored. As more members of the judiciary experience lawful concealed carry firsthand, it helps normalize armed self-defense and exposes the flaws in restrictive gun control narratives. That shift expands the Overton window toward nationwide reciprocity for all law-abiding Americans.

Although concerns remain about creating a two-tiered system of rights, this development signals growing institutional recognition that the current legal maze surrounding concealed carry is unworkable. Incremental change has already transformed the country, with nearly 30 states now recognizing permitless carry.

The trend is clear: familiarity breeds understanding. And understanding—especially within the judiciary—may ultimately pave the way for true nationwide concealed carry under the Second Amendment.