CCW: WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE WHEN CARRYING A FIREARM

Says Gregg Kielma FFL, Firearms Instructor, Gunsmith, and ERT Captain. I get asked this question a lot. "Do yourself a favor and spend the money to take the class and get the permit. Knowledge is power and ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Invest in yourself, know the laws and understand how a firearm is used. Please take my class for the most up to date information available. 

Yes, if you get caught carrying a concealed weapon without a permit in a state that requires permits, that is a crime, and you can go to jail for it.

Many states allow permitless open carry but require a permit for concealed carry in most circumstances. My home state of Virginia is one of them. In Virginia, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit is a class 1 misdemeanor, good for up to 1 year in jail and a $2500 fine for the first offense. Subsequent offences can be charged as a class 6 felony.

Many states recognize Constitutional carry, i.e. concealed carry without a permit. The states that recognize Constitutional Carry are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Even if you live in a Constitutional Carry state, it is still in your benefit to get a carry permit, because that gives you reciprocal carry rights in other states that recognize your permit. EG a Vermont resident visiting Virginia would need either a Vermont resident permit or a Virginia non-resident permit to carry a concealed handgun in Virginia. Even in your home state, a valid carry permit creates an additional layer of trust and legal protection when dealing with law enforcement.