Concealed weapons
Concealed weapons refer to firearms, typically handguns, that individuals carry in a hidden manner on their person or within personal items. The practice of carrying these weapons is known as "concealed carry" or CCW (carrying a concealed weapon). In the United States, all fifty states permit concealed carry, but the regulations governing this practice vary significantly from state to state. As of 2021, approximately 21.5 million concealed-carry permits were issued, reflecting a notable increase in recent years.
Concealed carry laws in the U.S. fall into three main categories: unrestricted, may-issue, and shall-issue, each dictating different conditions under which permits are granted. For example, unrestricted states do not require permits, while may-issue states allow officials discretion in approval, and shall-issue states mandate permits be issued as long as applicants meet specific criteria.
The debate surrounding concealed carry is contentious, particularly in relation to public safety and the Second Amendment. Proponents argue that concealed carry can lead to lower crime rates, while opponents raise concerns about the potential for increased gun violence and accidents. Recent Supreme Court rulings have further highlighted this tension by affirming the individual right to carry firearms in public. Overall, the conversation around concealed weapons remains a deeply polarized issue in American society.
Concealed weapons
The term "concealed weapon" refers to any weapon that a person carries with them and keeps hidden somewhere on their body or within personal property (such as within one's purse or vehicle). In most cases, however, the term refers specifically to a handgun or other firearm. The practice of carrying a concealed firearm in public is known as "concealed carry" or "carrying a concealed weapon" (CCW). All fifty states within the United States allow concealed carry, but gun laws regulating concealed carry vary widely from one state to another.
Concealed Carry by the Numbers
In 2021 the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) reported that approximately 21.5 million concealed-carry permits had been issued to citizens of the United States. That number represents an increase of about 48 percent since 2016. Previously, the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimated that about 8 million permits had been issued by 2011.
Both the CPRC and GAO numbers likely underestimate the actual number of concealed weapons carriers, however, as a many states do not require a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Residents of such states apply for and obtain permits only if they intend to carry their concealed weapon outside the state. Moreover, some states track only the number of permits issued to nonresidents, while other states may not have current or complete data. For example, Illinois did not start dispensing permits until March 2014.
Generally, states with relatively low concealed-carry permit fees issue higher numbers of concealed-carry permits, while states with higher fees issue fewer permits. Permit fees have ranged from as little as $10 in South Dakota to as much as $150 in Illinois (or $300 for nonresidents).
Concealed Carry Laws
Like permit fees, concealed carry laws in the United States vary from state to state. Concealed carry laws fall into three general categories: unrestricted, may-issue, and shall-issue. Prior to changing its concealed carry law, Illinois fell into a fourth category, no-issue, which meant the state did not issue permits because it did not allow citizens to carry concealed weapons.
In states with unrestricted concealed carry laws, citizens are not required to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. In Vermont, for example, anyone who is legally allowed to own a firearm may carry it concealed without a license or permit of any kind.
According to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, citizens of may-issue states must apply for a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Such states outline general requirements that an applicant must meet before they can obtain a concealed-carry permit. However, the official in charge of issuing concealed-carry permits may use their discretion in granting a permit and may deny a permit even if the applicant has met all the general requirements. Some may-issue states, such as Maryland, are very strict in issuing concealed-carry permits, while others, such as Alabama, are more lenient.
Shall-issue states establish a very specific set of requirements that an applicant must meet to receive a permit to carry a concealed weapon. As long as an applicant meets these requirements, the official shall grant the permit. Unlike may-issue states, shall-issue states eliminate personal bias and discretion from the issuer's decision to grant the permit. A large majority of states are shall-issue states.
Each state has established its own laws regarding gun control and concealed carry, with some states abiding by much stricter codes than others. As a result, a permit issued in one state may be considered invalid in another. People who obtain a concealed-carry permit in one state should always double-check legislation before attempting to carry a concealed weapon in another state. In addition, certain places—for example, schools, churches, courthouses, and government buildings—usually do not allow people to carry concealed weapons even with a proper permit.
In December 2017, the House of Representatives passed HR 38, titled the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 and sponsored by Republican representative for North Carolina Richard Hudson, which would amend Title 18 of the United States Code to compel all states to recognize concealed-carry permits issued by other states. Supporters of the bill argued that it would ensure that the Second Amendment to the US Constitution is uniformly guaranteed throughout the nation. Opponents argued that it would infringe on states' rights and pose a threat to public safety. While the bill was primarily opposed by Democrats, fourteen Republicans also voted against it, including the members of the House Liberty Caucus, who objected in part on the grounds that the bill “uses the Commerce Clause, a constitutional provision both parties abuse when trying to increase the size and scope of the federal government, to expand federal authority over concealed-carry permits. The Second Amendment, not the Commerce Clause, secures our right to keep and bear arms,” according to a statement signed by the caucus's executive director. In order to become law, the bill must receive at least sixty votes in the Senate. After it died in committee in 2019, the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security in 2021.
Concealed Carry Debate
The Second Amendment to the Constitution states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” In 2008, the Supreme Court of the United States further strengthened the Second Amendment with its decision in District of Columbia v. Heller. The Heller case challenged the constitutionality of a handgun ban in Washington, DC. In its decision, the Supreme Court established that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess firearms and declared the handgun ban unconstitutional.
In 2022, the Supreme Court further strengthened the Second Amendment after its decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen ruled that carrying a gun in public was a constitutional right that cannot be infringed upon by state law. (The Supreme Court case was the result of the challenging of a New York state firearm law that required prospective applicants to provide "proper cause," or a condition that separates themselves from the average citizen, as to why they needed a firearm license.) Additionally, the decision further supported shall-issue systems while potentially allowing the system of may-issue to be further challenged as an infringement upon the Second Amendment.
Although a person's right to own a firearm has been well established, debate about concealing and carrying a firearm in public continues. Those who support concealed carry point out that rates of murder and violent crime tend to be lower in states that do not require a permit to carry a concealed weapon and in states that have issued a high number of concealed-carry permits. The CPRC notes that between 2007 and 2013, both murder and violent crime rates dropped more than 20 percent in the same period that concealed-carry permits increased by 130 percent.
Opponents of concealed carry are not convinced, however. They present statistics from the Violence Policy Center, which found that gun deaths of all kinds are generally lower in states with the fewest number of gun owners. To further support their argument, opponents of concealed carry point to Florida, which according to the CPRC has issued more concealed-carry permits than any other state. In 2012, unarmed Florida teen Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by a member of a neighborhood watch program who was carrying a concealed weapon. Such incidents, opponents argue, will only increase as the number of concealed weapons rises.
Bibliography
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