Concealed carry in the United States

A concealed carry is the right to carry a gun in public in a concealed manner. In the United States, it has been extremely controversial. Over 35 US states permit adults who have applied, have no criminal record, and meet training requirements to carry 1 or more handguns in a concealed manner. Two states (Vermont and Alaska) allow any non-criminal over 21 to carry without a permit of any kind.

Carrying an armed weapon is an enormous responsibility. Training courses spend a considerable amount of time discussing the many aspects of liability should one actually use a handgun, even to defend oneself. Although state laws vary, almost any use that is allowed is solely as a last resort, when escape or retreat are not an option, and when warnings are possible, they are given and ignored.

This liability is particularly present if the wearer brandishes the weapon, threatens to use a weapon, exascerbates a troubled situation (instead of calming it or simply leaving), or is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Any criminal sanction for use of firearms can apply to the permit-holder as well as to the professional criminal.

Why carry?

There are a variety of motivations people have for seeking a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Historically, judges have often allowed applicants who could prove they had a threatening job to have a permit to carry (including judges themselves, bailiffs, and security guards).

Those who could prove they were personally threatened were also often given permission to carry, such as a spouse threatened by their mate, notable or famous persons, and people who received death threats.

These historical grants of permission rarely included a training requirement.

More recently, with the growth of the concealed carry movement, many more people have sought a permit that would allow them to be armed in public. This could be for:

• People who travel through high crime areas routinely
• Families who camp and fish in remote areas (including bear country)
• Women who feel safer as a trained handgun user
• People who enjoy various shooting sports and need to transport weapons for their sport
• People who want the training in order to protect their home, whether they actually carry in public or not

States offer selective reciprocity in this area. That is, a permit-holder in one state may be able to carry or transport a weapon in other states with a reciprocity agreement with the home state. Reciprocity does impose on the permit-holder the responsibility for knowing and understanding the differences in the laws between the states.

Methods of carry

Although some states do not explicitly require concealment, most do, and most permit-holders want to conceal their weapon, if only to avoid inadvertently causing people to make "man with a gun" calls to the police.

Concealment is usually achieved by a combination of a medium or small revolver or automatic pistol, a good holster for the purpose, and sometimes a covering garment. All of these are adapted from police experience.

Popular holsters are:

• Inside the waistband (IWB) holsters, which clip or mount to a man's belt and allow one to securely holster the weapon inside the pants.
• Outside the waistband (OWB) or belt holster, which can be worn relatively high and close to the body, slightly behind the hip bone ("4:00 position"), and is easily concealed under a sweatshirt or jacket.
• "Belly band" holster, which is a comfortable, wide elastic belt with a built-in holster, to be worn under a shirt that is not tucked in, to facilitate access. There are various types, worn at the belt line or higher, with the gun placement anywhere from in front to under the armpit.
• Pocket holsters, for use with very small weapons, usually a back-up gun.

Others have used built-in holsters in day planners or executive briefcases, made specifically for the purpose. There are even specialized lines of clothing featuring built-in holsters or aiding coverage of a regular holster. Women can buy purses with a special access holster that allows her to reach the weapon without opening the purse.

Preferred weapons for concealed carry

There is such a wide variety of candidates to consider for concealed carry, it is impossible to generalize about a single "best" weapon. Most experts say the criteria for choice should be:

• Reliability

The chief issue is avoiding jams as bullets are fed for the next shot

• Safety

The weapon should have modern features to prevent accidental discharge, and have clear safety devices that require an actual trigger pull to make the gun discharge. These can include a squeeze safety in the backstrap, trigger safety, built in lock, and decocking levers.

• Fit to the individual's hand, strength, and body size

For example, a 120-lb man will not be able to use a high-recoil weapon and will not be able to easily conceal a large weapon.

• Sufficient power

While policemen may have carried .38SPL caliber duty weapons in decades past, and James Bond preferred a Walther PPK in .32 caliber, most experts today draw the line at the 9mm caliber. That is, those about to use a weapon as a last chance of defense want the power to be sufficient to stop the threat, and police and military experience shows the 9mm caliber to be reliable in that regard.

Other popular calibers are .40S&W, .357SIG, and .45ACP.

Training

Most states impose a training requirement that must be completed successfully in order to receive a permit. These usually can be completed in 1-2 days, and almost all have both a classroom and a range component. Classroom topics typically include: firearm mechanics and terminology, concealed carry legislation and limitations, liability issues, carry methods and safety, home defense, and practice methods. At the range, students will practice shooting to a target from a standing position, and may practice shooting from cover. Most require a certain proficiency to receive a passing grade.