As of this writing, more than half of the states in the U.S. allow permitless carry. Each state still has regulations regarding who that applies to—usually an age minimum, and you must be otherwise able to own a firearm (e.g.., not a felon), but in general, if you meet the requirements and you wish to carry a handgun in that state, you are allowed to do so without obtaining a concealed-carry permit. It’s important you look up your state’s restrictions on permitless carry—some states allow open carry without a permit but require a permit for concealed carry, for example.
Let’s say you’ve read up your state laws and you know that you fit the legal requirements to carry without a permit. Great! How bad is it to carry without getting one?
It’s not bad at all; in fact, we strongly encourage you to carry if you’re comfortable doing so. However, you might want to consider obtaining a permit even if one if not required, and there are a few reasons for that.
1. Learning Opportunities
If you live in a state that requires a class or a test to get a concealed-carry permit, you might benefit from the training offered and the people you will meet in the class. Some states don’t require anything more than a background check and some paperwork to get a permit, in which case this doesn’t apply. And if you are already a competent shooter and don’t think you’ll benefit much from the concealed carry course offered by your state, move on to the next reason.
2. Convenience
In some states, you don’t have to stick around for an additional NICS check when buying a gun if you present a current, valid concealed carry permit—the logic is that if you’re trustworthy enough to have been granted a permit, you’ve already passed a background check and been proven trustworthy enough to purchase a firearm. This convenience might or might not be worth it to you depending on how often you purchase firearms.
3. Travel
This is the big reason you might consider obtaining a permit even if you live in a permitless carry state. If you go without one, you are only allowed to carry within the borders of your state and potentially in other permitless carry states, depending on their laws. Crossing state lines with your firearm can get dicey in a hurry.
However, if you have a permit, you’ll be allowed to carry in many additional states based on which states recognize your state’s permit. For example, there are currently 15 states that do not recognize my state’s permit; I cannot legally carry a concealed firearm in those 15 states. But there are 21 states that do not allow any form of permitless carry. I’d have to check the individual laws in the other 29 states to see if non-state-residents may carry without any type of permit. Regardless, my permit grants me the ability to carry in at least an extra six states (and probably many more), four of which I pass through at least twice a year. That’s important to me, and it’s why I have a concealed-carry permit even though my state allows me to carry a handgun without one.
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