Have gun owners always been allowed to carry concealed handguns in public?
A. No. The carrying of concealed weapons was prohibited or severely limited in most states prior to the 1990’s. Until that time, local law enforcement officials were allowed to take into account a history of violent behavior or mental instability when deciding who could have a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public (“may-issue”). In reaction to the passage of the Brady Law and the Assault Weapons Ban in the early 1990’s, the National Rifle Association (NRA) launched a campaign to strip law enforcement of their discretion and force them to issue permits to virtually anyone not prohibited by federal law from owning a gun. The gun lobby’s strategy resulted in thirty-four states adopting “shall issue” laws. Now, in many states, the NRA is extending its campaign to allow carrying of guns in schools and workplaces (places that are sometimes exempted in CCW laws). Q. Does law enforcement support having discretion to issue permits? A. Yes. Almost every major law enforcement organization
Related Questions
- Will HB 347 allow license holders the option to carry handguns openly OR concealed within their vehicle? Or, must handguns be totally hidden from view, in our vehicle?
- What kind of a country is USA when people feel they need to carry concealed handguns for protection?
- Are federal correctional officers allowed to carry concealed weapons?
