Friday, June 24, 2011

49 States Permit Concealed Carry! Except They Don't.

Everybody's all excited that Wisconsin passed its Concealed Carry Law, with the accompanying statistic that it joins 48 other states, leaving only poor Illinois the ugly girl at the party. As Frank Fleming puts it:
Not surprising that Illinois is the last total hold out on conceal carry. When you have whole cities run by criminals, last thing you want is honest citizens being armed.

Unfortunately, like most statistics, this one is hogwash. How do I know this? Because I live in The People's Republic of Greater Baltimoria Maryland, where concealed carry is marginally more legal than medicinal marijuana.

Here's the skinny:

The "may issue" is more often "no way". The categories for "may issue" are: making deposits; receiving money or cash flow; professional activities like doctors or pharmacies; correctional officers; former police officer; private detective and personal protection. For personal protection there must be documented evidence of recent threats, robberies, and/or assaults, supported by official police reports or notarized statements from witnesses. This state also requires permits for body armor.

For all practical purposes, that means no concealed carry. Let's not get all worked up in our triumphalism, shall we?

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