Is a Concealed Carry Permit a Constitutional Right?
A police officer is down and bleeding. He’s been shot in the shoulder. His attacker is now pistol-whipping him and punching him. It’s a dark and nearly deserted Arizona highway. The helpless officer knows his time is short. Suddenly two shots ring out and his assailant falls dead. The officer has been saved by a passer-by with a gun who had the guts to step up. And save a life.
This really happened.
This is not a fictitious scenario created by the gun industry for promotional purposes. This dramatic event actually occurred recently in a state that does not require a concealed carry permit. It is not a unique story.
But what if that officer had been valiantly serving the public in a state that requires a concealed carry permit? What if the Good Samaritan did not have one? It’s unlikely the officer would still be alive.
And that brings us to this crucial question: Is carrying a concealed handgun without a permit a Constitutional right, or should each state get to decide?
North Dakota Joins Permit-Less States
This subject is once again in the news, thanks to a recent decision by North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. He’s allowing his state’s residents to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense without a permit.
The bill he signed was passed by the North Dakota Senate two weeks ago (by a 34-13 vote). It already passed the state’s House in February (83-9).
There are now 14 states that allow permit-less concealed carry. The others are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
A concealed carry law that does not require a permit allows law-abiding citizens 18 and older to carry a concealed handgun for self-defense. As long as they have a valid ID and notify law enforcement of the weapon during instances such as a traffic stop.
Sounds like a logical law to me, yet 72 percent of our states still require a permit to carry a concealed weapon!
Second Amendment Is Clear
The Second Amendment to the Constitution reads, in part, “…the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
Forcing a law-abiding citizen to obtain a permit before he can exercise his constitutional right is not exactly what I would call “constitutional.”
Yes, our society is very different than the one that existed in 1791 when the Second Amendment was added to the Constitution as part of the Bill of Rights. And yes, there are definitely a number of people who should not be allowed to carry weapons – with or without a permit – including criminals and mentally deranged individuals.
But law-abiding Americans should be able to protect their fellow citizens when they are being attacked by lawbreakers.
And they shouldn’t have to acquire a permit to do it.
A few years ago they relaxed the restrictions on who could get a conceal carry permit. After you went to the class, your name was printed in the newspaper – I think they forgot the meaning of the word “Conceal”; my priest asked me if I was “packing heat”. Ugh.
Wisconsin just sent bill AB 247 to committee. With a Republican Governor and a majority in both branches, I hope it will pass. My Rep has already replied to my call with a letter (linen $$) how he wants training and ” common sense laws” I hope to vote him out soon.
Most liberal politicians dead set against gun rights, carry a gun, or have armed bodyguards with guns protecting them.
Every Time they open they big mouth, we should check on it and publicly humiliate them (if it’s possible at all) them two-face bastards.
Michigan just introduced this same bill a couple weeks ago. Hopefully it will pass.
The people who scream for more and more gun control don’t seem to understand that the only possible outcome would be that all the guns would then rest comfortably in the hands of the criminals and the government. Additionally, those with permits are not going out and slaughtering anyone – it is is illegal guns doing the killing. My son was killed many years ago by an illegal hand gun. It was in a state where no guns were allowed to be held by private citizens – permit or not. To prove my point I walked into the park near where we lived during the trial and brought to court a 9mm I bought in the park myself. Every time we put up big signs saying NO GUN ZONE we might as well be saying come on in – free to kill here, we can’t hurt you. Look at the tragedies that have happened in our schools and our churches! Wake up America and lock and load!!
Having to pay for a permit is simply just another tax! But I really don’t mind…Here is South Dakota it is just $10.00 for 5 years! a Really good deal. Without this you can be sure criminals will be allowed to carry also. They make sure your record is clean, but it would really be too bad if just because you got into a little trouble as a kid, they would deny you now, and that is wrong!! so it’s really a 50/50 deal!! And I will go with the Constitution and say they should be allowed to carry!! If they are a major violent criminal and get caught…let the penalty be greater!!