Concealed Carry Laws From State to State 

map of the united states

Whether you have a concealed carry permit or you’re thinking of buying a gun for the first time, understanding the concealed carry laws from state to state will ensure that you have a smooth process of obtaining your firearm and staying legal with it. Everyone has a different opinion on the second amendment and in fact, more than 50% of people think gun laws should be more strict. 

The goal of this article is to help you understand concealed carry laws so you know where you stand in your state. 

What is Concealed Carry? 

Concealed carry means you have the ability to legally carry a concealed firearm in public. A concealed firearm means that it is hidden and not visible to everyone around you. In order to be concealed, the firearm needs to be hidden under clothing or carried in a backpack or purse by the individual carrying it.

Concealed carry laws require that firearms can be transported in a vehicle by the individual and under their control. It needs to be available to the person carrying it and can be stored under the seat or in the glove compartment.

However, there are a few instances that consider a firearm or weapon not concealed. If you are carrying your firearm in a belt holster and it is even partially visible, it is not concealed. If you lock your firearm in a closed trunk of a vehicle, it is no longer concealed. 

Difference Between Concealed Carry and Constitutional Carry 

Constitutional carry is a bit different than concealed carry laws. A firearm or weapon is concealed if it is worn underneath your clothing or is transported in a vehicle under your control. Constitutional carry means that a state’s law does not restrict citizens to possess a firearm or weapon that is concealed. Instead, they carry the firearm or weapon freely, without a permit.

Constitutional carry means that an individual can carry without a permit, background check, or safety training. It can also be referred to as permitless carry. Concealed carry often requires all of these things for many different reasons. 

While concealed carry laws (and gun laws in general) might be strict in some states, you can’t let that get in the way of your individual liberties. The same applies to your prepping plans whether it be survival fishing, homesteading, or stockpiling. As an American, you have the right to bear arms. However, it is important to remember your state’s concealed carry laws.

Open Carry States

Some states even have the option to openly carry. Open carry means that a person is legally allowed to carry their firearm in a holster or it can be attached to a sling. This makes it open which is visibly noticeable, and easily accessible. Within the past few years, more states are making it legal to openly carry. 

The reason that many citizens are in favor of open carry is that criminals tend to hide their weapons, but those who abide by the law can openly carry them and should not be forced to hide them. There are a few different ways to openly carry depending on your state. 

The first is permissive open carry. This means that you can legally carry a firearm either on foot or in your vehicle openly. There are five states that prohibit open carry – California, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, New York, and South Carolina. Alabama, Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington restrict open carry. If your state restricts open carry, this means that you generally are allowed to open carry, but you need to follow your state’s restrictions.

There are other states that are licensed open carry states. This means that you are only allowed to openly carry a handgun if you have a permit. States with this law include Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, and Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. In Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New Jersey, it is illegal to openly carry long guns.

The remaining states allow open carry in public without a license or permit. Even if you are able to openly carry, it is important to remember that firearms are still not allowed in certain locations, like schools, churches, state-owned buildings, public transportation, or any places where alcohol is sold.

Defining Concealed Carry Laws and Permits by State 

All states in the U.S and DC allow you to carry firearms if they are concealed. 30 states and DC require you to have a permit and have different permit laws, like may-issue and shall-issue. 19 states have laws for constitutional carry, but also can issue a permit if requested. The only state that has constitutional carry but won’t issue a permit is Vermont.

May Issue to Residents Only 

This means that your state may issue a concealed carry permit based on their judgment after you have met all requirements and finished your application. This is specifically for residents only. California and Delaware are the only two states that may issue to residents only.

May Issue to Residents and Non-Residents

After you complete your application and meet the requirements necessary, your state will decide if they want to issue you a concealed carry permit. This can apply to both residents and non-residents. Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York are all states that may issue to residents and non-residents. 

Shall Issue to Residents Only 

If you complete your application and meet all requirements, then your state will issue you a concealed carry permit. Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, and Nebraska are all of the states that shall issue to residents only.

Shall Issue to Residents and Non-Residents 

If you meet all requirements and complete your application, your state will issue you a concealed carry permit. The states that shall issue to residents and non-residents are Washington DC, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Constitutional Carry to Residents Only 

You are allowed to carry concealed firearms with no permit if you are a resident. Nevertheless, if you are a resident of your state and meet all application requirements, your state will issue you a permit. States that allow residents constitutional carry are as follows: Alaska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Constitutional Carry to Residents and Non-Residents

Even if your state issues a permit if you meet all of the requirements, both residents and non-residents are able to carry concealed firearms without a permit. The states that allow constitutional carry and shall issue to residents and non-residents are Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Utah.

Constitutional Carry and Does Not Issue Permits  

Vermont is the only state that does not allow constitutional carry and will not issue a permit. However, Vermont does allow concealed carry.

States with the Strictest Concealed Carry Laws 

The two states with the strictest concealed carry laws are California and Delaware. California has the seventh-lowest death by gun rate in the U.S. and Delaware has the eleventh lowest death by gun rate. While the death rate may be low due to the strict laws, it’s still not the lowest, and most second amendment backers would say this is a violation of constitutional rights.

Other states that also deal with strict gun laws are Illinois, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Hawaii, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Before you are allowed to purchase a gun, most of these states require background checks, training, and even have a waiting period.

Out of all of these states, Massachusetts and New Jersey have the lowest gun ownership rate (14.7 percent) in The United States.

States with the Loosest Concealed Carry Laws

There are quite a few states that are friendly with your second amendment right to gun ownership. States in the south and in the midwest seem to be the main states with gun-friendly laws.

Arizona, Idaho, Texas, Arkansas, New Hampshire, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, and South Carolina are the main states with the loosest concealed carry laws. The Firearms Industry and Trade Report is used to examine the economic output of guns in each state and determine which states have the loosest concealed carry laws. The more guns are owned in each state, the more gun-friendly that state is. 

Final Thoughts

Concealed carry laws are a highly debatable topic but for the foreseeable future, we don’t expect much change. The states with high respect for the second amendment will likely retain loose restrictions and more blue states will continue to make you jump through hoops to own a concealed firearm. Nonetheless, the laws are the laws, and understanding them will help keep you out of trouble. 

Comparing Handgun Calibers

Comparison of various calibers

Experts argue over which handgun calibers are the best. They compare accuracy, price, and stopping power. Each has an opinion as to what gun and ammo works best in a specific situation. Following are comparisons between the .357 Magnum, .38 Special, and 9mm.

.357 Magnum

The .357 Magnum was introduced in 1934. It was designed using the S&W .38 Special as a model. Phil B. Sharpe, Elmer Keith and D. B. Wesson of Smith & Wesson and Winchester collaborated on the ammunition, lengthening the case of the .38. The team’s purpose was to create ammunition that could compete with the Colt .38 Super Auto. The Colt .38 Super Auto was the only round that offered muzzle velocity above 1,000 FPS. The ammo’s high velocity was imperative as a deterrent to bootleggers and gangsters who had been using bulletproof vests and automobiles as shields. The .357 helped police target their adversaries and the ammo became a top choice for law enforcement. It also introduced the “Magnum Era.” The dual-purpose cartridge is used for self-defense, hunting, and target shooting.

.38 Special

Smith & Wesson introduced its .38 Special ammo in 1898. S&W created the centerfire ammunition as an alternative to the .38 Long Colt. Law enforcement officers embraced the .38 Special from the 1920s until 1990s. Police used the .38 Special as the standard issue service cartridge. WWI soldiers carried the round into combat. The revolvers and ammunition faded from everyday use but remain the symbol of the law.

Shooters buy .38 Special calibers frequently for self-defense, pest control, competition shooting, and target practice.

9mm

DWM firearms designer Georg Luger introduced the 9x19mm Parabellum in 1902. Luger created ammunition to be used as a service cartridge for the Luger semi-automatic pistole. The 9mm was accurate and compact. 9mm pistols hold more ammo than previous models. Luger showed the ammunition to be lethal at 50 meters.

World War I introduced submachine guns. Submachine guns used 9mm ammo to penetrate field gear, an important aspect of eliminating the enemy. The ammo played a big part in World War II. The military and law enforcement agencies accepted the 9mm immediately. The 9mm replaces the .38 as a standard issue sidearm. Civilians followed suit, using the 9mm for self-defense due to its size, weight, and low recoil.

Comparison

Each handgun caliber has its merits. The .38 is a classic ammo for a revolver. People use the ammo for self-defense and concealed carry. It has a longstanding history of being used as military and police sidearms.

The .357, based on the .38, is a more powerful round. Like the .38, it can be chambered in a revolver, but is also common in a semi-automatic.

The 9mm is the most popular ammunition in the world. It has replaced the less powerful .38 for military and police use. A wide variety of weapons are chambered in 9mm. Although more expensive then the .38 or .357, a major benefit of the 9mm is the mild recoil and the increased capacity of the magazine.

Making the Choice

The differences between the three types of ammunition are negligible. The user determines the need and use for the ammo and the calibers. In most situations, any of the above will work well. The gun plays a part in the choice, as well. Making a choice on ammo should be based solely on the need and experience of the shooter.

 

 

The Iconic Colt Detective Special

Colt Detective

Manufactured by Colt’s Manufacturing Company in 1927, the Colt Detective Special is one of the most iconic snubnosed revolvers ever made. It’s a six-shot, double-action revolver with a 2” barrel historically used by plain clothes police detectives when carrying concealed. It also became a popular model to carry off-duty.

History

Colt employee John Henry Fitzgerald came up with the concept of the “Fitz Special” snubnosed revolver in the mid-1920s. Fitzgerald wanted to reduce the barrel size of the .38 Special Colt Police Positive Special revolver to make it easier for police to carry concealed. He shortened the barrel and ejector rod and removed the front of the trigger guard to enable faster trigger acquisition. Fitzgerald also modified the butt and bobbed the hammer spur to make it faster to draw without catching on the policeman’s clothing.

The Detective Special

The Fitz Special made such an impression on Colt that they made some modifications to the design and introduced the Detective Special. Upon its release in 1927, the Detective Special became an instant success. Several law enforcement agencies worldwide still use the gun.

Five Generations

There have been five generations of the Detective Special, starting with the first generation in 1927. Some purists only consider the gun to have had four issues, since the fifth issue was a last-ditch attempt at reviving the weapon by making a run using spare parts. 

First Issue

The Detective Special was first manufactured from 1927-1946. This issue was the pared down version of the .38 Special Colt Police Positive Special revolver. Distinctive features of the “snubby” included a shortened ejector rod with an ungrooved, knurled tip; a checkered cylinder latch and hammer spur, wooden grip panels, and a “half-moon” shaped front sight. The earliest model, featuring a 2” barrel, retained the original square butt grip frame. In 1933, Colt rounded off the grip frame to make the weapon easier to conceal. Colt switched over to the rounded butt for the Detective Special. However, the original square butt was used into the 1940’s.

Detective Specials were manufactured for the U.S. Government during World War II. Due to the high demand and quick turn-around required, many of the weapons had the original square butt. Historians believe that the guns were pre-war Police Positive Specials retrofitted with 2” barrels.

Second Issue

The second issue of the Detective Special was sold from 1947 to 1965. After World War II, Colt began to make changes to its line, including the Detective Special. The company changed a variety of things including the cylinder retention system. They also replaced the front sight, altered the hammer spur, and lengthened the ejector rod.

The gun’s grips were known as “Coltwood,” made from a reddish-brown plastic. This was common throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s. In later years, Colt returned to using checkered American Walnut embellished with silver Colt medallions.

The second issue offered a 3” variant with a lengthened ejector rod. Colt changed to a serrated trigger spur, and the cylinder latch was smoother than the original.

Third Issue

Produced from 1966 to 1972, the Detective Special’s third issue only offered a minor change. Colt changed the grip frame to match the short, “stubby” frame used on the Colt Agent. Colt changed the grips to simplify and reduce the cost of production. Other changes included adding a new shroud to enclose and protect the ejector rod. Designers changed the front sight to a full ramp, and oversized wooden gripstocks covered the front frame strap.

Variations on the third issue included a limited run of nickel-plated guns as well as a 3” barrel variant.

Fourth Issue

Produced from 1973-1986, the fourth issue was the last of the series and featured the last major design change made by Colt. In 1973, Colt changed the barrel to a heavier version, adding a shroud designed to cover ramped front sight and the ejector rod. They also changed the narrow, old-style grips to a sleeker combat-style that wrapped around the frame. Additionally, the formerly grooved trigger was now smooth.

In 1986, faced with dwindling sales and rising costs, Colt discontinued the Detective Special.

Fifth Issue

Manufactured from 1993-1995, the fifth issue was a last hurrah for the Detective Special. Colt had just recovered from bankruptcy. The company decided to take leftover parts and made a short production run of Detective Specials. The reissue was an instant success.  There was enough demand from the reintroduction that Colt continued to produce the gun until 1995.  The guns were identical to the 1973 model except for the introduction of Pachmayr’s “Compac” rubber grips.

The Detective Special’s revival only lasted until 1995, when Colt introduced the stainless-steel SF-VI.

Many experts tout Colt’s Detective Special as one of the finest snubnose revolvers ever made.