There are thirty-six U.S. states which currently have laws allowing some citizens to carry concealed weapons. The laws the govern carrying a concealed weapon vary by state, and are usually drawn from federal law. Regardless, it is illegal to carry a concealed weapon in the United States without a CCW permit, and the penalties for carrying a concealed weapon without authorization can be quite large.
Gun laws are constantly the center of heated debate in the United States, and carrying concealed is one of the top priorities. Fatal shootings encompass a large portion of the mortality rate among U.S. citizens, and it is a priority of federal and state law enforcement agencies to prevent such shootings wherever possible. For that reason, in order to obtain a permit for carrying a concealed weapon, most states require that citizens complete a training course and pass a test. They must also pass a background check; if you have been convicted of a violent crime, you will not be approved.
In order to obtain a permit for carrying a concealed weapon in most states, you must be at least eighteen years of age and have a registered weapon in your possession. You must also pay a licensing fee and have your fingerprints taken. Some states require that you have no criminal convictions on your record, while others require that you have no violent crime convictions.
Having a permit for carrying a concealed weapon allows you to carry your handgun with you when you leave the house, and to keep it concealed in a holster or bag. Even so, there are certain places where it is illegal for a non-law-enforcement individual to carry a concealed weapon at all, even with a permit. Those places include school zones, airports, universities, national forests and courtrooms. It is also illegal in most states to carry a concealed weapon in any establishment that sells liquor.
Before you obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon, be sure that you understand all of the laws in your state. There are significant penalties for carrying a concealed weapon in a place where they are prohibited, and ignorance of the law is no defense.
Carrying a concealed weapon without a permit can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the statutes in your state.
The penalties are even harsher for people who are carrying a concealed weapon during the commission of a felony crime. For example, someone who is found in a stolen vehicle with a concealed weapon will face several more years of prison time than if he or she had not been armed. These laws are in effect to reduce shooting-related deaths and injuries, and are taken seriously by both state and federal courts.
Also, just because you have a permit for carrying a concealed weapon in Texas does not mean that the permit protects you in New York or Arizona. In fact, many states (such as New York) carry heavy penalties for people who live in other states and bring a concealed weapon in their own. It is imperative that you research weapon and gun laws in other states before visiting or vacationing there.
