Below is a letter I wrote to my state legislature and various gun rights organizations. As you might’ve guessed from the title, the topic at hand is permitless concealed carry. In this letter I advocate for the creation of permitless carry laws in my current home state, using a wide variety of sources and quotes to help drive my argument. As such, this piece has much more input from outside sources than you may typically see here at Primer Peak. I have made some changes where logical to improve flow for the internet reader, and to try and make this adaptable for you and your home, wherever that may be.
Defining Permitless Conceal Carry
I won’t recreate the wheel here, as others have done the hard work before me. First we must define what we are discussing. Generally speaking, I will stick with the term “permitless carry” in this piece. With that, I am exclusively talking about legal conceal carry, without any sort of permit. I will not debate the finer points of “permitless” versus “constitutional” carry, as that is outside the scope of this work. That said, let’s take a look at how the USCCA defines these terms (https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/terminology/types-of-concealed-carry-licensurepermitting-policies/unrestricted/).
Although the terms constitutional carry, permitless carry and unrestricted carry are often used interchangeably, definitions of the terms differ.
Constitutional carry: Constitutional carry means that the state’s law does not prohibit citizens who can legally possess a firearm from carrying handguns, (openly and/or in a concealed manner) thus no state permit is required. Sometimes, constitutional carry may be conditional such as in those states that have no laws prohibiting the open carry of a handgun but which require a permit to carry the handgun concealed.
Permitless carry: Permitless carry includes constitutional carry states as well as states where an individual must meet certain qualifications, e.g., no DUIs in the last 10 years, in order to legally carry (Tennessee). Some states are fully unrestricted, meaning no permit is required for open or concealed carry. Others allow the open carry of a firearm/or handgun without a permit but require a permit for concealment.
Despite what some in the media and government may want you to believe, permitless carry is the standard. As of this writing, 29 states allow permitless carry. That’s 58 percent of our nation, with new states joining every year. This may shock some people, as the narrative often portrayed is that only criminals carry guns without permits. While criminals certainly have no respect for the law, thousands of law abiding Americans arm themselves in public every day.
States Which Current Authorize Permitless Conceal Carry
Currently there are 29 states which authorize permitless conceal carry. They have the authority to set the requirements and limitations of the practice, but generally the concept seems somewhat similar across the board. Rather than recreate the wheel here, let’s take a page from some folks who specialize in this subject. Below is an excerpt from the USCCA, with their most up to date (as of this writing) list of states, and their minimum age requirements for permitless carry (https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/terminology/types-of-concealed-carry-licensurepermitting-policies/unrestricted/).
- Alabama (PC-21)
- Alaska (PC-21)
- Arizona (PC-21)
- Arkansas (PC-18)
- Florida (PC-21, as of July 1, 2023)
- Georgia (PC-21 years old or 18 for military)
- Idaho (PC-18)
- Indiana (PC-18)
- Iowa (PC-21)
- Kansas (PC-21)
- Kentucky (PC-21)
- Louisiana – (PC-21) effective July 4th, 2024.
- Maine (permits recognized; see Maine reciprocity section for details or PC-21)
- Mississippi (PC-21)
- Missouri (PC-19 or 18 for military)
- Montana (PC-18)
- Nebraska (PC-21 as of 90 days after the legislative session ends)
- New Hampshire (PC-18)
- North Dakota (PC-18) On April 12, 2023, Governor Doug Burgum signed HB 1339, allowing non-residents the ability to concealed carry under North Dakota’s permitless carry laws. It will also remove the 30-day requirement for IDs. The new law will go into effect on August 1, 2023.
- Ohio (PC-21)
- Oklahoma (PC-21 or 18 for military)
- South Carolina (PC-18)
- South Dakota (PC-18)
- Tennessee (PC-18* or 18 for military)
- Texas (PC-21)
- Utah (PC-21)
- Vermont (PC-18)
- West Virginia (PC-21)
- Wyoming (PC-21)
In order to carry a handgun, an individual must be:
- Able to lawfully possess a handgun per federal law (e.g. not a felon or an individual with a conviction of domestic abuse) and any state requirements
Be in a place where the person has a legal right to be
[18 USC 922 (g)]*In April 2021, the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) sued the state of Tennessee for prohibiting 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying a concealed firearm in public or from obtaining a permit, stating that these restrictions were unconstitutional. On Jan. 23, 2023, attorneys for the state of Tennessee entered into an agreed order in federal court with the FPC. The order stipulates that the state’s restrictions were unconstitutional and that they will no longer be enforced. The order immediately went into effect
Rights for Me, and Rights for Thee
Using the 2024 election map, we can see that most of these states lean “red”, or conservative (https://www.politico.com/2024-election/results/president/). That said, there are still some “blue” or “purple” states which have jumped aboard the Permitless Carry train, restoring the rights of their citizens. This is truly something that is beginning to reach across the aisle, and rightfully so. Self defense is a natural right, no matter what political party happens to represent the land you call home. Crime happens everywhere, and being able to protect yourself shouldn’t be limited to certain parts of the country. Enacting permitless carry helps to ensure that everyone can defend themselves and their loved ones, regardless of who is in power.
Violence and the Impact of Permitless Carry
A common outcry against permitless carry is that there will be blood in the streets, turning out cities into lawless wastelands of death and destruction. In reality, this is far from the case. Studies continue to show that more legal gun ownership, combined with the ability to easily legally carry, does not increase crime, and often times it actually ends up lowering crime rates. Here are just a few examples from a variety of sources, both government and private in origin.
- Top three states with the lowest crime rates as of 2019 are permitless carry states, and were as of the time of said study. (https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/09/four_years_after_allowing_universal_concealed_carry_law_maine_rated_the_safest_state_in_the_nation_for_crime.html).
- Six of the top 10 are permitless carry states (https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/rankings/crime-and-corrections/public-safety)
- 1994 study showed Florida murder rate dropping from well over the national average to slightly below national average after introducing conceal carry reform while rest of US rates climbed (http://www.davekopel.org/2A/LawRev/Shall%20Issue.pdf)
- Different 1994 study regarding criminals “Fifty-six percent of the prisoners said that a criminal would not attack a potential victim whom they knew to be armed. Thirty-nine percent of the felons had personally decided not to commit a crime because they thought the victim might have a gun, and 8 percent said that this had happened “many times.” Criminals in states with higher civilian gun ownership rates worried the most about armed victims.” (https://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=155885)
Conceal Carriers Compared to Law Enforcement and Non-Carriers
- “John Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center, compared the behavior of CCW holders to police. He concluded that, “concealed handgun permit holders are extremely law-abiding.” And added, “In Florida and Texas, permit holders are convicted of misdemeanors and felonies at 1/6 of the rate at which police officers are convicted.” Among police, firearms violations occur at a rate of 16.5 per 100,000 officers. Among permit holders in Florida and Texas, the rate [of firearms violations] is only 2.4 per 100,000. That is just 1/7 of the rate for police officers. In addition, misdemeanors which cost permit holders their licenses might have been speeding violations or other simple violations having nothing to do with violence or concealed carry. So CCW holders are likely even more law-abiding than these numbers suggest.” (https://thenewamerican.com/us/crime/more-guns-less-crime-concealed-carry-permit-holders-more-law-abiding-than-police/)
- Study from 1996-1998 and revised in 2000: (https://txhga.org/2015/12/31/chl-study/)
- The average male is 18 times more likely to be arrested for committing a non-violent crime than the average male CHL holder.
- The average male is 7.7 times more likely to be arrested for committing a violent crime than the average male CHL holder.
- The average female is 13 times more likely to be arrested for committing a non-violent crime than the average female CHL holder.
- The average female is 7.5 times more likely to be arrested for committing a violent crime than the average female CHL holder.
Rights Delayed are Rights Denied
In Clark County the Sheriff’s Office has up to 120 days to approve or reject a permit application. It is common knowledge among gun owners in Clark County that the Sheriff’s Office WILL take the maximum time allowed of 120 days, or 1/3 of a year to process applications. During this time applicants are forced to forgo their most effective method of protecting themselves or their loved ones. Open carry is not a sufficient alternative, as it has been repeatedly shown that open carriers are targets for violence, and often create social panic and discomfort amongst non-gun owners.
- “Man with a Gun” Allegations
- https://athlonoutdoors.com/article/massad-ayoob-open-carry/
- https://gunsmagazine.com/guns/handguns/open-carry-part-ii-the-case-against/
- https://accesswdun.com/article/2014/4/274194
- Open Carriers Ambushed
- https://www.activeresponsetraining.net/friends-dont-let-friends-open-carry
- Gun bans directly attributed to open carry
- https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jan/20/washington-legislature-bans-guns-in-galleries/
- https://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/House-approves-panic-buttons-in-wake-of-open-6015078.php
Financial and Time Burdens
In addition to this, the financial and time costs can be prohibitive for our most at-risk citizens. The typical concealed carry class in Nevada takes eight hours to complete, not counting travel to and from the class location. Appointments with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office often take multiple hours to complete as well. This is time that people may have to take off of work, or find childcare to support.
The permit itself costs approximately $100 for new applications (https://www.lvmpd.com/about/bureaus/records-and-fingerprint-bureau/concealed-firearm-permits). Most conceal carry certification classes cost at least $100, and often don’t include ammunition. With approximately 12-14% of Nevadans living in poverty, this is a significant burden (https://data.census.gov/profile/Las_Vegas_city,_Nevada?g=160XX00US3240000#income-and-poverty).
Continual Growth
The greater Las Vegas metropolitan area is continuing to grow. In 2021, the combined Las Vegas area was ranks #9 in growth in this report (https://www.inspectionsupport.com/the-fastest-growing-metropolitan-areas-in-the-u-s/). Seeing a 7.2% increase in population, adding over $153,000 residents, primarily moving from Southern California. Another study had this to say in 2023 (https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/News/Blog/Detail/population-trending-upward):
Las Vegas remained Nevada’s largest incorporated city after adding 5,500 residents in 2022, bringing its total population to 656,300, according to the recent population figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The overall southern Nevada region, which includes the city, other incorporated areas like Henderson and North Las Vegas, and unincorporated portions of Clark County, witnessed its population increase to approximately 2.3 million.
The city’s population growth rate of 0.8 percent in 2022 expanded on the 0.6 percent rate reported in 2021, continuing the upward trend.
In 2022, the city of Las Vegas ranked as the 24th largest incorporated city in the nation, three spots higher than in 2019. Over the past decade, the city moved up seven positions, surpassing cities such as Boston, Portland and Memphis along the way.
Looking ahead, Clark County’s population is projected to continue growing, with rates ranging from 1.8 percent in 2023 to 2.3 percent in 2026, according to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Center for Business and Economic Research.
This ever-growing population will not reduce the burden on our flawed permitting system. Nor will it improve the efficiency of our overly restrictive and vulnerable background check process (https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/firearms-background-check-system-restored-after-nevada-cyberattack/). These de facto waiting periods are denying the citizens of Nevada their right to protect themselves and their loved ones with the most effective tools available to them. As of 2025 there have been 173,000 concealed carry permits issued to the citizens of Nevada, accounting for 5% of our population. With the above math, that is approximately 1,300 new conceal carriers over the next five years, which will only increase the burden on our current systems, and will likely further increase timelines for those looking to express their Second Amendment rights.
The Role of Pro-Second Amendment Organizations
These are not the ravings of a mad man on the internet. Let us take a look at what the the Bill of Rights has to say about the Second Amendment.
- “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” (https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript).
This is supported at the state level in the Nevada Constitution as well.
- “Right to keep and bear arms; civil power supreme.
- Every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes.” (https://www.leg.state.nv.us/const/nvconst.html).
Pro 2A Organizations and their Missions
There are many pro-2A organizations currently active in Nevada. These include the NRA, and the Nevada Firearms Coalition (NVFAC). Let’s take a look at their stated purpose and objectives
- Per the NRA-ILA (https://www.nraila.org/about/),
- Established in 1975, ILA is committed to preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
- Per NVFAC (https://www.nvfac.org/purpose-and-objectives/),
- To be the statewide association promoting the ownership and safe use of firearms for self-defense, competition, recreation and hunting.
- To safeguard the rights of the citizens of Nevada to keep and bear arms in accordance with the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Nevada, to enhance these rights and to promote favorable public sentiment thereof.
Our Pro-Second Amendment organizations in Nevada have been on defense for several years. NVFAC has lobbied to prevent the passage of several anti-gun bills, which has been mostly successful, but not entirely (https://nvfacpac.org/legislature/2025-legislature/). While we cannot guarantee that pro-gun bills see the light of day, as an NVFAC member, it appears that no attempts at progress have been made over the last year or more. Playing defense often leads to a “death by a thousand cuts”, as we’ve seen over the past 90 years, from the NFA to today.
Take Action
It is these organizations, along with others and their membership, who press for positive change. NVFAC, NRA, and others have resources and connections to help guide their members voices, allowing them to be heard. The membership supports the organizations with their funding, along with outreach to the legislation. NVFAC, along with other organizations need to take action to help expand gun rights, rather than simply fighting against anti-gun attacks. Make calls, send letters, shake hands, protest, and more to make our voices heard. Take action.
Closing Thoughts Nevada Permitless Conceal Carry
It is time for the people and gun rights organizations of Nevada to push for the legalization of permitless concealed carry. More than half of our nation has enacted similar laws, and have shown time and time again that the anti-gun claims of “Wild West” and “blood in the streets” are simply scare tactics with no claims of legitimacy. The current systems in place are denying law abiding citizens the ability to effectively defend themselves and their families, without reducing legitimate violent crime on our streets.
Permitless carry works, and Nevada must allow it’s citizens full access to their rights. For those outside Nevada, this still applies to you! Aside from some local statistics, the numbers on safety, violence, and more do not change when you cross state lines. If your state doesn’t support permitless carry, take this as an example to help make positive change where you call home.
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