Concealed Carry Handguns

The writer of this page has yet to understand why someone would need a permit from the government to do something that they already have a right to do. It isn't like getting a driver's license. Driving is a priviledge, not a right. Owning and carrying firearms is a right which pre-existed the laws of the land. The state is responsible to make determinations as to who is qualified to drive a car on the streets and issues permission to drive in the form of a driver's license. But every citizen who has ever applied for a driver's license has already had the right to keep and bear arms. So, would someone please explain exactly why one should need to obtain a permit from the government to buy a gun, own a gun or carry a gun?

A state's gun permit process serves absolutely no purpose as you will see in the following example.

Scenario #1 where no permit is required in order to carry a concealed handgun.
The police stop to talk to a guy and discover he is carrying a gun. They the police run his ID throught he police computer and learn he has no police record and has never been in trouble. They tell him he is free to go.

Scenario #2 where a permit is required in order to carry a concealed handgun.
The police stop to talk to a guy and discover he is carrying a gun. They the police run his ID throught he police computer and learn he has no police record and has never been in trouble. They tell him he is free to go.

The procedure is exactly the same whether the state requires you to have a permit or not. Some feel that the only reason concealed handgun permits are ever issued (CHPs, CCWs, CWPs) is solely so that the government knows who you are and has the option to go after you to take your guns away from you for whatever reason they deem worthy enough to do so. Some refer to concealed handgun permits as "defacto gun owner registrations". (Registering gun owners has always been the first step of disarming free citizens before a country is about to become a dictatorship. Most recent example: Cuba)

Regardless of how stupid the idea of getting a permin from the government may be, you should still just get one anyways and keep a concealed handgun ready to go for your pwn piece of mind. There are many states in the US which haven't tossed out the 2nd Amentment and will issue you a concealed handgun permit if you ask for one and complete certain requirements. The requirements each state need from you may be something like a certificate of completion of an NRA approved firearms training course, an application fee (Virginia is $50.00 for a 5-year permit) and a completed application with a lot of personal information.

Many states recognise the concealed permits from other states as well as their own. When states accept each other's concealed handgun permits, the term for that is "reciprosity". You will need to be fully aware of all the subtil details each state may have regarding the carry of a concealed handgun as you travel from one to the next. You will also want to make sure you always carry a concealed handgun in a high quality holster. Your local, full service firearms retailer can assist you further.