Obtaining a concealed carry permit in America can be a confusing and frustrating process. With 50 states, each with their own set of laws, the steps to obtaining your CCW can vary wildly from state to state. If you live in one state but travel frequently to another, you may need one or more non-resident permits as well.
What is concealed carry?
So, what is concealed carry? Simply put, it’s the act of carrying a handgun on your person. In most states in America, however, the laws surrounding this practice vary greatly. Some states have very strict requirements for obtaining a permit; others have no restrictions at all.
So what does all this mean for you and your gun? Well…
Obtaining a Concealed Carry Permit
The process for obtaining a concealed carry permit varies depending on the state. In some states, there are no prerequisites at all and anyone can apply for a concealed carry permit simply by paying the fee and filling out some paperwork. Other states have more stringent requirements, such as training courses or additional permits (like a hunting license) that must be obtained before applying for the CCW permit. In some cases, you may also need to undergo mental health evaluations or psychological testing to ensure that you are mentally stable enough to carry a firearm openly or concealed.
When it comes to costs associated with obtaining your CCW permit, this will vary from state to state as well. Some states require one-time fees only; others have ongoing annual costs associated with maintaining your permit in good standing (for example: renewing every 5 years). Further complicating things is the fact that these fees may be waived if certain conditions are met—for example, military veterans often qualify for free CCW permits if they meet certain criteria set by each state’s government office responsible for issuing weapons licenses/permits .
Concealed Carry Laws by State
Concealed carry laws are, first and foremost, a state-by-state issue. Some states have open carry laws that allow the unconcealed carrying of firearms in public; other states have concealed carry laws that permit only concealing weapons on one’s person. A few states allow for constitutional carry: no permit required to bear arms, although some jurisdictions may require you to undergo training or obtain a license from them in order to do so legally. Some states offer both open and concealed carry privileges. And some places require no permit at all for concealed or open carrying—but this is rarer than it used to be since most Americans prefer not having random gun owners walking around without any restrictions whatsoever (#thanksObama).
