Carry State Clarifications

Note: I received this as a portion of an email from Alan Korwin at gunlaws.com (LINK) (PAGE NINE -- No. 52) This is not a link to the complete email but you can sign up at this link to receive same.


Chris Bird, author of the exceptional Concealed Handgun Manual, reports: The NRA says there are 40 right-to-carry states. That includes Vermont which does not issue licenses so you don't need a license to carry open or concealed. Alaska is a shall-issue state but you don't need a license to carry in the open or concealed under current law. The state has kept the permit process going for Alaskans who want reciprocity with states in the Lower 48. (According to Obamma "lower 55")

There are three other states – Alabama, Connecticut and Iowa -- that the NRA considers right-to-carry because they say permits are almost always issued to law-abiding residents. I have no quarrel with Connecticut and Alabama but I do not count Iowa as I have talked to people in one state gun-rights organization and they say it depends on which county you live in. Some counties issue few if any licenses.

So I say there are 36 states that have mandatory issuance if a person qualifies: AK, AR, AZ, CO, FL, GA, ID, IN, KA, KY, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, WY.

I use the terms license and permit interchangeably, though states are generally dedicated to the word they've chosen. Also note that some states issue permits for concealed weapons that include more than just a handgun, some issue licenses for concealed handguns only, or for any possession, or for a specific firearm listed on the permit. In my home state of Texas, the CHL is for a revolver only, or for semi-auto and revolver, at your choice.

For information on how the wonderful firearm licensing laws attack and diminish your right to keep and bear arms, read this: http://www.gunlaws.com/lostcry.htm and this:http://www.gunlaws.com/recsch.htm