Concealed Guns Now Legal in Every State

Illinois concealed carry ban overturned

Until yesterday, Illinois was the only state with a ban on concealed weapons in public, but now that's all over. A federal appeals court struck down the IL ban, meaning that every state in the US allows licensed gun owners to carry covered firearms.

"The theoretical and empirical evidence (which overall is inconclusive) is consistent with concluding that a right to carry firearms in public may promote self-defense," wrote Judge Richard Posner in the majority opinion on the ruling.

Illinois residents won't be able to carry their guns in public for another 6 months, until the state legislature creates a law specifying where concealed carry is permitted. Other states have laws that restrict concealed weapons in certain locations, like government buildings.

Via Fox News.

Are you in favor of allowing concealed guns in every state?

[MBernard]

Either it's a good way to promote self-defense or a good way to promote chaos, but we'll have to see.

[John_Matrix]

Have to wait and see? Are the 49 other examples not good enough for a basis of comparison? Ever since I moved to Indiana I've carried everyday and everywhere I go. Funny that I haven't seen rampant shooting sprees and chaos.

[MBernard]

@John_Matrix and all the shootings? I am for it man, everybody has a gun as required by law. Is is a good idea. That's still being debated

[John_Matrix]

@MBernard

If you're for carry laws then what was this crap about seeing if widespread chaos will occur due to the passing of the law?

[Gizmo]

I think its a good idea for self defense. When is the last time criminals obeyed the laws?

[tomincali]

i think if our founding fathers would have known of the crimes we now face they may have made it a law where we all are to carry. there may have been a criminal here and there yet nothing of what we now see.

[PoliticalSpice]

Every year unarmed people are shot to death by police. People should be armed to defend themselves when police violate their rights. In ny Diallo, bell are two that come to mind...

[Rogue]

If you are carrying a gun, concealed or otherwise, the old maxim applies: you are expecting a reason to shoot and kill with it. And that is exactly what you will find. A violent and hostile environment.
If, on the other hand, you look for the best in people and love 'em all, you will inhabit a loving and peaceful world.
Your thoughts creat the world you live in.
Thus, those who are so violent -- within themselves -- will "see" a violent world, and will carry guns.
It's all about, really, how advanced you are as a human being.
Or, too, how ignorant ....

[JoeSchmoe]

@Rogue... so all crime and violence can be solved by everyone closing thier eyes and thinking happy thoughts? Why didnt anyone think of that before? With all the "advanced people" like you its a wonder that we don't have world peace by now.

[Rogue]

@JoeSchmoe Can't imagine that Einstein, Edison, Mozart, Michelangelo, Gandhi, Henry Ford ever walked around with guns on their hips. Nor did they carry concealed weapons. Their goals were to improve the world, not shoot and murder it. And yes, if there were more people like them, trying to advance their world, we'd have a more peaceful world now. Instead, we seem to have a lot of little paranoiac fellows running around carrying guns,(who've rarely contributed very much to scientific, music, art, world, technological advancement), whining and crying that their fellow man is "out to get" them.

[Neo_NtheMatrix]

Every law abiding citizen should carry a weapon. It's our right, we should not surrender it. The best way to fight crime is with a citizenry that refuses to become victims.

[PoliticalSpice]

I agree. But the text of the second amendment has nothing to do with fighting crime. The amendment was designed to protect freedom, particularly from oppressive government. I agree with sharon engle (losing senate candidate nevada) we should avail ourselves of second amendment remedies to reform hovt. I disagree with her on which people need be addressed as part of the reform, but scalia, demint, mcconnel, chenney, bush and many members of the house come to mind (to be clear this is not a threat, just my opinion).

[kirbstomp1]

I will say if there ever was a law against weapons it would never be enforced, first of 4 out of every 5 weapons produced in the world are bought by Americans. Secondly there would be a revolution before they even had a chance to start seizing weapons. I think gun control is the last thing we need to worry about. Also it's completely legal to make your own home made fire arm. I think the second amendment would be the last law Uncle Sam would want to toy with.

[stepped_in_it]

@kirbstomp1 Hmmm, not if you Google it!( first of 4 out of every 5 weapons produced in the world are bought by Americans) "In 2007, it was ESTIMATED that there are ABOUT 875 million firearms in the world, of which ABOUT 270 million are in the US. There are about 1,135 companies world wide that make about 8 million firearms a year. ">>> I know it's a 5 yr old study, think it got better in the last 5 years? But, you're right. Gun control is the last thing D.C. needs to worry about!(but look up your facts before you state them...ok)

[kirbstomp1]

@stepped_in_it - okay I got my 'fact' from a historian at my university. The only thing I can say to possibly back up his claim is look at the number of weapons we buy to help supply other NATO forces. I'll assume without checking that our government easily buys 1 out of every 5 if not a little higher. I do believe gun purchases spiked right after Obamas first election, but nowhere near 400 million that would be needed to fix the difference.

[Republican5001]

Here here

[seedtick]

It is up to each state to decide whether this is legal or not. I absolutely support concealed carry for licensed US citizens.

[marine1]

Why should we need a license OR permission from any goverment to protect our life or the life of our loved ones?

[marine1]

I have to wonder how 9/11 would have turned out if the folks on the planes were carring concealed weapons??

[seedtick]

@marine1 Well, in most places no license is needed to own a gun. But, to carry a concealed firearm you must have a license issued by the state you live in. The federal registration laws are a pain in the buttocks, though, because it solves absolutely nothing...but harass the honest citizen. The only thing I can see that it does is flag anyone who tries to purchase a large number of weapons.
IMHO...legal citizens of this nation should be able to keep and bear arms when needed to protect themselves, their families, and their property. However, they should never be able to use or display those arms in a way that intimidates other citizens. But, other citizens should not be able to place undue regulation on anyone's right to use a firearm for sport or protection.

[vigilant]

@seedtick,
Vermont has never required a license to carry concealed. And recently Arizona and Alaska have dropped the requirement. The ensuing calm strongly suggests that the alleged basis for requiring a license is fictitious.

[Thunderchicken]

I voted that it’s up to the stated because I'm all for having concealed carry and for having CCW permits but not for licensing individual guns.

[WMCOL]

A license is issued to an individual not to a gun. I am licensed to carry a semi-automatic or a revolver. The license makes no distinction as to gun make, model, or year of manufacture. That is left to me. I qualified for a CWL with a gun owned and used specifically by the self-defense course.

[Thunderchicken]

@WMCOL

I realize that the carrier is licensed. But the question and obvious answer are worded in such a way to refer to the gun being licensed not the carrier. Note the use of the word "they".

"Are you in favor of allowing concealed guns in every state?
Yes, if they're licensed"

[WMCOL]

@Thunderchicken
"concealed guns" means it is the person doing the concealiing. They gun is not concealing itself. The "they" are those concealing the gun. It is those "they" that are being referred to as being licensed, not the guns.

Just took my CWL out. It says nothing about licensing a gun. To do that it would have to specify the particular gun to be concealed and everytime I got a different gun(different serial number) I'd have to get a new license.

Concealed Weapon License means the person to whom license is issued is authorized to carry a weapon concealed. My license identifies three types of guns, Derringer, Revolver, and Semi-Automatic. The license is on the person, not the gun.

If the license was on the gun it would have to be attached to the gun in some way, kinda like a car tag. And except for some personal plates the tag would be specific to a particular vehicle, just like gun license would be specific to a particular gun and serial number.

[Speedieg]

@WMCOL my carry permit in Georgia likewise licenses me to carry a concealed weapon. My weapons are not licensed. However every gun I own is registered with the state. They know what I own.

[WMCOL]

@Speedieg
My guns are registered too, but registration is not a license. Registration is on the gun, the license to conceal the gun is on the person. However, I have guns bought at Gun Shows, and from other private individuals that are not registered. I have Bills of Sale on them and that's it. The guns I bought from gun stores are registered.

[WMCOL]

Long live the Second Amendment. The infringement to our ability to exercise our Constitutional right to keep and bear arm is gradually being dissolved. But we still have many restrictions to yet overcome. So don't anyone who stands for freedom and liberty get too comfortable. Open carry should be legal in every state. We should be legally allowed to carry in any public place just like law-enforcement does; schools, government buildings, stores, banks, etc., and bars if we don't consume any mind altering substances, which one is not supposed to do anyway when legally carrying.

[Zazziness]

If you live on a ranch where your shot isn't going to go through three apartment walls. But if you live in a city, your right to play vigilante has to be balanced against everyone else's right to be safe from your strays.

[Politicskid]

But if you live in a city, you should still have the right to defend yourself. It increases safety. For example, in the recent shooting in the Clackmas Mall, many people where able to shoot back at the shooter. It's possible these shots could have saved others lives. If nobody had a gun, he could have killed a lot more then 2 people.

We shouldn't punish the good, law abiding citizens by not letting them carry a gun just because of a couple crazies who very well will carry one anyway and not get caught.

[Zazziness]

@Politicskid Why can't you defend yourself with a weapon that doesn't endanger the lives of others to the same extent? Why do you have to use old technology?

[Politicskid]

@Zazziness What, do you want people to try to use a taser on somebody with an AK 47? That's crazy! Not even SWAT teams will do that, how can you expect ordinary citizens to?

[Politicskid]

@Zazziness The bottom line is that if we have a lot more good people carrying guns then bad, the world is a much safer place.

[Zazziness]

@Politicskid Oh please. Exactly what are the odds that you're going to need to single-handedly take down a crazed gunner with an AK-47?

[paramedic70002]

The poll has no acceptable answers. I think CC should be allowed WITHOUT a permit.

[SavageMazx]

Agreed,

[truthsayer]

Yeah I think "shall not be infringed" has a pretty clear meaning. A license to Carry law is a tool used by government to circumvent the Constitution. The government has no authority to restrict ownership of firearms or the manner in which one bears it of any law abiding citizen. A Supreme court ruling or even a new amendment can not change that. It's forbidden by the supreme law the Constitution. Like it or not.

[Denizen_Kate]

@truthsayer - Agreed. I don't own any guns myself, but have given it a lot of thought. The one thing (besides the expense) that makes me hesitant is that the government would then know I owned a gun. For some reason that I can't seem to articulate, I don't like that idea.

[vigilant]

Absolutely!

[vigilant]

@truthsayer,
Well said.

[stepped_in_it]

Kewl...A CCW and a doobie. Now, this country is getting interesting! bahaha

[kirbstomp1]

Mine stays on my hip when I light up my bong. lol

[stepped_in_it]

@kirbstomp1 Adds to the statement...don't bogart that joint (and gun) my friend....

[Zazziness]

@kirbstomp1 Careful. One of the lovely loopholes since the feds don't recognise state laws on medical marijuana is the BATF arbitrarily decided that no one with a medical marijuana recommendation may own a gun. Know what the NRA did and said about that? Nothing.

[kirbstomp1]

@Zazziness -im not in a state with legal medicinal marijuana. I just enjoy the herb.

[stepped_in_it]

@Zazziness Zazz>>>>(you didn't feel my cold hand on your leg when I pulled it?)

[kirbstomp1]

You wanna know my favorite color? FREEDOM!

[marine1]

More people should respect that color but far too many are color blind.

[kirbstomp1]

@marine1 - yea, way to many people. The color is also fading here in America.

[CGiven]

I support carry, period. I went with your choice of yes, if licensed, only because it was the closest choice. As far as I'm concerned, the free exercising of a right doesn't require the need for a license.

[vigilant]

Indeed - what part of "shall not be infringed" do they not understand?

[Food4thoughts]

What I don't understand is why the need to conceal? Throw it on your hip...who are you trying to surprise?

[SavageMazx]

Keeps the libs who are afraid of guns from freaking out.

[JoeSchmoe]

thats the whole point of concealed carry. concealment. If a bad guy knows you have a gun he may come after you first to neutralize any threat to himself before he carried on with his criminal behavior. open carry can make you a target.

[SavageMazx]

@JoeSchmoe you are a target becuase you open carry? I would disagree, if my wife walks out of a store into a parking lot with her .357 on her hip alert to her surroundings vs walking out rumaging around in her purse or yaking on her cell phone, you think she'd be more likely to be a target if she has a gun? The reason for the CCW laws is we are a polite society that believes guns are bad, they make people uncomfortable. Crimminals are cowards they prey on the weak and helpless. last thing some punk with a knife is going to do is mug someone with a fiream strapped to thier hip.

[Food4thoughts]

@JoeSchmoe So you're playing possum?

[vigilant]

Food,
Some states prohibit open-carry, so concealed-carry is the only option. That's how it is here in California - except most localities won't issue a concealed-carry permit either. Otherwise, it's just a matter of situational prudence and personal preference. I don't think anyone is trying to "surprise" anyone.

[RobertJHarsh]

I support concealed carry. My only fear is if some enterprising young politician attempts to a gun grab and uses the concealed carry license lists as a starting point.

[MarkJM]

I not only support concealed carry, I conceal carry myself. The 2nd Amendment IS National Security.

[CaryNickel]

I vote for the legal carrying of firearms, but not because of state laws. The U.S. Constitution's 2nd Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear arms, and slowly, Federal courts are getting it right by overturning state laws that restrict firearms use. I don't even support the idea of gun licensing, because licensing only affects law abiding citizens, it makes no difference to criminals, who carry concealed weapons on a regular basis.

[Politicskid]

Anyone who votes against allowing concealed carry doesn't understand that allowing people to carry guns increases safety because they can defend themselves and potentially disable a shooter, like in the case of the Clackamas Mall shooting yesterday.

By the way I only live 20 miles away from there!

[KyleMFb]

Concealed guns don't deter crime like open carried guns but the draw back is when everyone is able to carry guns are there's stupid cowboys out there and people die bc someone's a stupid trigger happy cowboy

[vigilant]

Kyle,
Your concern is common, but misplaced. There are presently Millions of peaceable law-abiding citizens who carry both concealed and open, every single day in every state. Research shows that armed private citizens have a lower incidence of lawlessness than even the police, and they are far more likely to prevent a violent crime or apprehend a criminal, with far less collateral harm, than the police.
References:
"Armed Resistance to Crime: The Prevalence and Nature of self-Defense with a Gun" by Dr. Gary Kleck, Ph. D – Criminologist
"The impact of gun control and gun ownership levels on violence rates." Journal of Quantitative Criminology 9(3):249-287 " by Dr. Gary Kleck, Ph. D – Criminologist
“Why do people support gun control?” Journal of Criminal Justice 37(5) " by Dr. Gary Kleck, Ph. D – Criminologist

“More Guns, Less Crime” by John Lott, Ph. D.

[KyleMFb]

@vigilant I've seen it personal people think when they have a gun and they see a crime take place they think their automatically transformed into a secret FBI agent or something and shoot first ask later as a result of that most of the time they end up shooting everyone else but the criminal iv seen this happen 2 different times don't get me wrong I'm all for open carry/concealed carry but for every 10 responsible gun owners there's probably 20 cowboys out there that have no business carrying guns

[vigilant]

@KyleMFb,
There are no guarantees and nothing is ever perfect. Everyone is subject to making a mistake. Such is the nature of humanity. So you've witnessed a mistake. That's no reason to condemn the rest of humanity to forever be defenseless against heavily armed violent criminals and lunatics - unless you are pushing an agenda.

[snapcracklepop]

Is this article a joke? FYI Concealed Guns are not Legal in Every State lol nor will it ever be. The ban on guns is coming real soon and no the 2nd amendment is not going to prevent it from happening.

[kathyparsell]

I find some of the paranoia on here amusing, I find you delusional. The bans on gun coming soon ... get real. Move to Europe!

[MRMacrum]

I voted "It's up to the States". This is one issue I would like to see the Feds stay out of. If only because it is just wasting more time and effort.

[Sharpshooter]

Another Biased Poll.... Limited Permission, No Permission, Let the States Decide...

What about my opinion... The 2nd Amendment is all the gun control we need.

[Denizen_Kate]

There, you see? Another issue upon which you and I can agree.(I still say you couldn't hit water if you fell out of a boat, though.:-)

[Sharpshooter]

@Denizen_Kate People are gonna start talkin'...

[Denizen_Kate]

@Sharpshooter - Isn't that what this web site is for?:)