Laws on Concealed Gun Permits
- You can legally carry a handgun in any state, as long as it is visible. This means that you can wear your gun in a holster on a belt around your waist. But if your jacket covers the belt, you have broken the law because it is now a concealed weapon. You must not to wear your weapon when entering certain locations, such as a post office or motor vehicle office, as it is against the law to bring firearms into government buildings. Any time you pass a police officer while wearing your weapon, you likely will be stopped and questioned, as law enforcement officials get nervous when they see civilians sporting weaponry.
- In 2009, 37 states would issue concealed carry permits if the applicant met the requirements. Twelve states may issue you a permit, but may not, even if you meet every requirement. Six states will not honor permits issued to non-residents of the state from which their permit was issued. In other words, say you're visiting Colorado from your home in Utah. If you're carrying a permit from Arizona, it's not valid in Colorado, even though Colorado will honor Arizona permits. Wisconsin and Illinois are the only two states that will not issue concealed carry permits at all. But this is a significant change from 1986, when only nine states permitted concealed weapons carrying.
- Before you can get your permit, you must qualify. What this means varies by state. Some states require training; others do not. Some states require more stringent training than others. The age at which a person may carry a concealed handgun varies by state. According to federal law, while an 18-year-old may legally possess a handgun, federally-licensed firearms dealers may not sell handguns to anyone under age 21.
- The cost of obtaining a permit also varies by state. Retired law enforcement officials sometimes receive a discount on the permit fee. Along with the application and any qualifying documentation -- such as proof of attending a training course -- you must usually submit a fingerprint card and some states require that you submit passport photos as well. Generally, if you have ever spent time in a mental institution or been convicted of a felony involving a handgun, you will be denied a concealed carry permit. However, you should check your state's concealed weapons permit regulations.
- Researchers at the University of Chicago Law School studied U.S. crime statistics from 1977 through 1992 and discovered that the 31 states at the time of the study that permitted concealed carry handguns experienced a considerable decline in violent crime. In fact, this study showed that large cities with the highest crime rates experienced the greatest plunge in violent crime after adopting right-to-carry laws. Most significantly, the evidence showed that issuing concealed carry permits did not increase the incidences of fatal gun accidents or crimes involving handguns.
