Constitutional carry continues to be a hot topic, with more than half of the country having codified it into law since this article was written in 2017. Since then, the trend has seen nationwide acceptance, reflecting a firm leaning towards constitutional carry as a right. This progression, however, leads to some new considerations. While I still firmly believe this to be a beneficial development, it poses an evolving set of questions for the CCW community, primarily:
Do we still need to go through the process and expense of getting concealed carry permits with constitutional carry laws in place?
The short answer is: yes, yes, we do. The long answer is a list of reasons why. As it turns out, CCW permits offer several benefits both for individual permit holders and for the community as a whole.
Interstate reciprocity is still a consideration.
For good or ill, we’re a mobile society, and interstate travel is a routine part of many of our lives. A CCW permit—and a solid knowledge of the applicable laws—allows us to take advantage of interstate reciprocity legislation and stay on the right side of the law as we travel.
Interactions with law enforcement are often easier.
CCW permit holders are some of the most law-abiding citizens around, and LEOs know this. Having a permit often makes you one of the good guys in the minds of the cops, so having one can help routine interactions with the police run a lot more smoothly.
CCW classes impart vital knowledge.
This varies from state to state, but in general, CCW permits require completing a training course. These often cover more than just CCW law and explain self-defense law in general. Plus, they give you the chance to ask whatever questions you may have about CCW while meeting like-minded people. Networking and expanding your knowledge base are never bad things, so take advantage.
Other perks abound, depending on the state in which you live.
In my home state of North Carolina, my CCW permit allows me to buy handguns more quickly and easily—the permit counts as the background check required by state law. This alone makes it worth it, and other states offer similar perks.
Getting a CCW permit offers tangible support for CCW and the Second Amendment.
The process of getting a permit shows our lawmakers that We the People, support our right to keep and bear arms in a very real way. By putting our money where our collective mouth is, we’re advocating for our rights in a way that state governments find difficult to ignore.
Short story made long. I strongly suggest that we all retain our CCW permits and that we help new shooters get theirs. The cost is minimal compared to the benefits, and it all plays a role in maintaining the freedoms we cherish.
If you’re living in a state with constitutional carry, I’d be interested to hear about your experiences. Please drop me an email or get in touch via the comments section.
Also, having a permit is a positive defense against a charge under the federal school zone laws (but, sadly, only if the permit is for the state where you are within the school zone).
I live in a state that doesn’t have CCW permits, and never has. I considered getting a non resident permit from a different state that would allow carrying in neighboring states, but found they didn’t recognize the non resident permit I was most likely to get. I pretty much gave up on getting a permit, and now, all the states I want to go to are Permit-less carry, and I just avoid the others.
Maybe if there was National reciprocity I’d pursue it, but at this point I don’t see any reason to.