Is Carrying Concealed Weapons Getting Easier?

In the state of Ohio, you can now possess a hidden weapon. That loaded handgun may be carried with you in your vehicle. You can take it to work, to a park. You can have it on you in a bar, a store, or in a parking lot.

Those with concealed carry permits have fairly liberal discretion about when it is acceptable to use their handgun against burglars, attackers, or car thieves.

In Ohio—as in many other American states—all you need to qualify for a conceal carry permit is a twelve-hour gun training course.

Consider the way things were in 2008. Then, a written test was required even to renew a concealed-carry license. That law was abolished in 2008. It was deemed over-regulation of the right to concealed carry weapons.

Today, in Ohio, over a quarter-million Ohioans have concealed carry permits. Permit holders may not be identified by law now. Once, reporters had access to this information but it was deemed they had abused their privilege of this knowledge so it was repealed.

The situation in Ohio is far from unique. I use it merely as an example to show how much change has occurred in concealed carry weapons in less than a decade. There is no doubt about it: There has been a significant expansion of concealed carry permits across the USA. It is estimated that, at last count, between 4 and 7 million people had concealed carry permits.

Almost half the states have watered down or completely eliminated laws relating to regulation of concealed weapons. The result is easing back on testing and eligibility requirements for concealed carry permits.

People who legally carry pistols have more places it’s legal to have them and more latitude regarding what constitutes using these concealed weapons for defense.

Imagine parents picking their kids up from school and carrying a weapon or having one in their car. It’s all perfectly legal for concealed carry permit holders in many states. Landlords can’t refuse to rent to someone with a concealed carry weapon. That’s discrimination.

In Wisconsin, a concealed carry law allows students, teachers, workers, and visitors to carry weapons on college campuses and government buildings.

Louisiana lawmakers have made it legal for people with concealed carry permits to bring guns into churches, temples, synagogues, and other places of worship. These institutions may hire armed security guards with concealed handguns.

The state of Kansas makes it perfectly legal for concealed carry permit holders to drink while carrying a weapon.

In 2003, Utah’s amended concealed-carry laws made it legal for concealed carry permit holders to bring guns into schools.

Many states have lowered barriers for obtaining a concealed carry permit. In Virginia, you need only take a training and safety course and complete the test online. Instructors for these courses promise applicants results in an hour—whether they have ever held a handgun before.

In 2017, Arizona agreed to abolish concealed carry permits completely. Any Arizona citizen can carry concealed weapons without any permit. They are not alone. Three other states have also waived permits for concealed weapons.

Is the easing of restrictions on concealed carry handguns a problem? Anti-gun activists would have you believe it is.