Constitutional Carry: What is it and Why

Posted on December 16, 2010 by NAGR Staff

The first of many questions asked on the topic of Constitutional Carry is, simply, what is it?

Sometimes referred to as Vermont Carry, Permit-less Carry, Right-to-Carry; Constitutional Carry is the ability to carry a firearm concealed or openly without applying for a permit through governing bodies.

The term Vermont Carry stems from the fact that, instead of legalizing concealed carry for everyone, the state of Vermont never criminalized the carrying of a firearm. They simply never prohibited concealed carry in any way, thereby ensuring it as a right rather than a privilege.

Currently Alaska and Arizona have similar laws, though theirs are cases where it was once prohibited and now is not.

In essence, Constitutional Carry is the ability to exercise one’s Constitutional right without a permission slip from the government. No other Amendment in the Bill of Rights is viewed as needing permission; the Second Amendment should not be singled out simply because special interest groups scare people into thinking it should.

The next big question regarding Constitutional Carry is: Why have it?

After all, aren’t the laws regarding concealed carry already in place a good thing? We need to answer that question with a few important points:

◦One, no other right contained in the Bill of Rights requires a permission slip.
◦Two, law-abiding citizens should not be forced to “register” with a law enforcement agency simply because they want to exercise their rights.
◦Three, registering creates lists. A government being in possession of lists of certain types of its own citizens has proven very dangerous in the past. A very brief review of 20th century history should explain why. Constitutional Carry eliminates lists and red tape.
◦Four, most importantly, criminals who are intent on using a firearm to cause harm to others do not apply for concealed carry permits. They just do it. Why then should average citizens be punished and charged to do the right thing? Read Complete Article at National Gun Rights