Concealed carry is a controversial issue in the United States even though most of us are used to the culture of owning and carrying firearms in the country. Despite the fact that having firearms, such as a gun, is a tradition that is in practice long before most of us were born, many people still kick against it.
But that’s not the point right now. What we are here to find out is the state that allows people to own and carry guns around. That way, you can tell whether concealed carry is legal in your state or not.
All the same, before we discover the concealed carry legal states, let’s first find out what the term means and what people think about it.
What Is Concealed Carry?
Concealed carry is a policy, which states that people are free to carry firearms, especially guns, in the public if they do not allow others to see it.
What this means is that people can move around with their guns and also bring them to public places. However, as long as they have the concealed carry permit and do not make their firearms visible while in the public, they are good to go.
In case you’re wondering, the usual approved firearms for concealed carry is handguns.
Why Do People Carry Firearms as Concealed Carry?
You might be wondering why people have to carry firearms around and why they should hide their weapons while in public.
Well, people carry guns around for protection and to prevent crime and stop criminals (an example is when they disarm criminals in the case of armed robbery or mass shooting). It is also their rights as expressed in the Second Amendment.
As for why they have to conceal their guns while in public, well, in the first place, the law demands it. And secondly, it makes people around them more comfortable and less threatened. I bet you won’t feel comfortable sitting next to someone with a visibly loaded gun.
Arguments for and against Concealed Carry
As expected, there is a heated debate over concealed carry. While some Americans believe people should be allowed to own and carry firearms, others kick against it and demand that guns should not be allowed to walk the streets of America unchecked.
Here, we are going to give you the reasons given by both sides for their stands.
Arguments in Support of Concealed Carry
Owning and carrying firearms have been an age long culture in the United States. So many Americans believe things should be left the way it is. Besides, they believe it is their right to do so as expressed in the Second Amendment.
But apart from these, there are other reasons concealed carry has received supports of many citizens. Here is a recap of why they support the policy:
- People can defend themselves and their loved ones in time of danger.
- It is their right as expressed in the Second Amendment.
- It discourages criminals and attackers because they can’t tell if the person they want to attack is armed or not.
- Concealed carry allows people to stop criminals from harming others. For instance, mass shooters and armed robbers can be stopped and disarmed if someone in the crowd has a gun.
- It makes the vulnerable people feel safer.
Arguments against Concealed Carry
Even though many people support concealed carry, a lot of others show their concern over it.
Here is a recap of their reasons for going against concealed carry:
- It increases chances of gun violence.
- Some people bearing concealed weapons are not permitted to do so.
- Some people with concealed carry permit are not well trained or screened to carry firearms.
- It causes people to live in fear, feel unsafe, and mistrust others, including neighbors.
- It does not allow the law enforcement officers to do their jobs without facing danger. For instance, some of them face gun violence attacks while on duty.
- There have been cases of accidental shooting that is caused by concealed carry.
Who Is Allowed to Carry Firearms?
The better question should be who is not allowed to carry firearms? So, here are some of the individuals that are banned from carrying firearms in the United States:
- Convicts
- Fugitives
- Illegal users of controlled substances
- Mentally unsuitable individuals
- Illegal aliens
- People that are known to be aggressive and violent
- Those below the required age limit
If you don’t belong to any of these groups, you are allowed to carry firearms in the United States.
The age limit for carrying firearm varies across states. The laws also vary in different states and local authorities. This is why you need to check the laws of your state and local authority regarding the individuals banned from carrying firearms.
Concealed Carry Legal States
The good thing about concealed carry is that it is legal in all the states. This means that if you want to buy and carry firearms, you should go ahead and do so as long as it is concealed. But before you do that, you need to know the status of concealed carry in your state.
What we are trying to say here is that even though it is legal generally to own and carry firearms in the United States, the status varies in different states. This is because while some states require a permit for concealed carry, others do not.
Here, we are going to provide you with the names of states that will require you to get a permit and those that will not.
States that Require Concealed Carry Permit
Here are the states that require you to have a permit before you can carry guns around in the United States, even if it’s concealed carry:
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
States that Require No Permit
If you are living in any of these states, you don’t need to get any special permits to own and carry firearms:
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
You need to understand that even though these states do not require permits for concealed carry, the local laws may have other regulations. So you have to check with the local authority before carrying your weapons around.
Let’s Wrap It Up
You have seen the list of states that legalized concealed carry with permit and those that don’t require permits. But remember to check the local laws before carrying your guns into the public because laws vary in different states and among different local authorities.