5 Conceal Carry Laws

The firearm laws of the United States vary from state to state and the best thing you can do is be educated properly. There are very few catch-all laws that regulate each state, but below are four areas of the law you should familiarize yourself within the interest of being the most informed gun-owner possible. The fifth isn’t really a law, but advice as lawful gun-owners should be working hand in hand to help eliminate crime and keep the people around them safe.

1. Can you even carry?

This one is pretty broad, but it is by far the most important law of all. Do you know if your state even allows for conceal carry and if it does, how many states reciprocate your states issued permit? We shouldn’t have to tell you why this is important, but we will. If you’re caught concealed carrying a firearm without a permit, it’s a felony offense. That is just an all-around bad day. Know your state! Unless you live in what’s defined as an “Unrestricted” state, you’d better have a permit. You can find a list of what your state allows here. You can find a list of states that reciprocate your state permit here.

2. Brandishing

Anyone who knows the first thing about firearm safety knows this is a no-go. Do not pull your weapon out as a show of force. Your weapon is there for a life or death situation, not to intimidate. In some states, the charge can be as small as a misdemeanor leading all the way up to a felony charge. Don’t do it. You know the weapon safety rules, abide by them. For anyone unclear on the definition of brandishing a firearm, you can find that here.

3. Shooting

Nobody really wants this day to come, and if you do, you probably shouldn’t have a firearm. Using your firearm in a real life or death situation will probably the pent-ultimate experience of your life, with thousands of thoughts swirling in your head after the fact. It’ isn’t something to be taken lightly. The United States Concealed Carry Association has a few tips on what you should expect after an encounter. Handling this situation properly could mean the difference between you being acquitted and you going to jail for a very long, long time.

4. Safety

Knowing your states safety laws could prevent the accidental loss of life, you from getting your firearms taken away and tons of money spent in court. God forbid any of those should happen. If an accident occurs, however, the ignorance defense in the court will not go very far. Often many states have several specifications as to how your firearm should be stored while not on your person. If you choose to not abide by them, you are accepting the risk and consequences of that action. A good resource to start your research is the NRA for ideas on how to safely store your firearms.

5. Interactions With LEOs

This isn’t really a law, so much as it’s a guideline to protect you and protect the officers. Nobody wants to get shot accidentally so bear in mind a few things when interacting with Law Enforcement Officials. They want to go home to their family. You want to go home to your family. The number one thing you need to do is make the officer aware that you’re carrying or your firearm is in your vehicle. Always, always, always keep your hands visible and make no sudden movements. Remember, the officer doesn’t know you, and he doesn’t know your mannerisms, so leave as little question as to your benevolent intentions as possible. Here are a few more helpful tips as well.Carrying a firearm is a right. It is also a lot of responsibility, ensure that you are educated and trained properly before taking a firearm out into the world.