Concealed Carry Law At A Glance

Concealed carry laws have been passed in various areas of the United States which extend to citizens the right to carry concealed weapons, such as when they go out into public. Concealed carry laws are provided for by state-level legislation, and are not addressed in laws passed by the federal government. As such, people who are interested in their ability to bear a concealed weapon legally and while in public should thus attend to the specific legislation which is in force in their state, as may be identified through a different name and with different legal repercussions. In some cases, the hopeful carrier of a concealed weapon may have to secure certification before this right can be freely exercised, while in other cases and other states concealed weapons can be carried without needing to secure any form of permission from a legal agency. Concealed carry laws can be identified, in terms of their level of permissiveness, according to which kind of “Issue” laws they have adopted. In this regard, states may extend “Shall Issue” policies to the prospective holders of concealed weapons, or in other cases may have “No Issue” laws bearing on concealed weapon rights. “May Issue” concealed carry laws may also be passed, and in such a case will require that the holders of concealed weapons first secure a permit from law enforcement. In regard to this structure of legislation, the only wholly unrestricted states for concealed carry laws are Vermont, Alaska, and Arizona, in that permits are unnecessary.