Should I Get A Permit If I Don’t Plan to Carry?

This is a very valid question to ask. If you do not plan on carrying around a firearm are there any other reasons you should consider getting your concealed carry permit or license anyway?

What follows are my thoughts on things you might consider in making this decision.

The Education and Training Is Valuable

I would start by suggesting that regardless if you want to get the actual permit/license or not you can only gain by taking the state required training course. Education is always good and nobody can ever get enough of it.

Also, in taking the class not only will you walk away more educated about your state's laws, gun safety, and shooting skills; you will also have more information that would help you decide if it is worth it to you or not to actually go and apply for the license.

While taking a class likely means a financial investment, any gun owner regardless of their desire to carry concealed should invest in as much training as they can. So, yes, take the class regardless of your plans to apply for and obtain the permit itself.

It Suggests Responsibility and Care

Applying for and receiving your permit also communicates to law enforcement, judges, and juries that you are a responsible citizen who was willing to spend your time and money both to get educated and to go through a proper legal process that includes a criminal background check.

In confrontations with law enforcement and in a worst-case scenario legal incident in which you end up in a courtroom; having received your permit is only a good thing that reflects positively on your character, ethics, and level of personal responsibility.

If The Day Ever Comes When You Want to Walk Out The Door With That Gun …

If you are asking the question about the arguments in favor of getting a permit then I assume you do have some desire to use a firearm in some degree of personal protection. Perhaps right now you are solely focused on having a firearm for home defense and so you don't think you need a permit. How confident are you that the day will NEVER come in which you choose to walk out that door with the concealed firearm?

On the off chance that you go to meet a stranger in a transaction, or need to go in search of your missing dog late at night, or any other number of unlikely but realistic scenarios where having your personal protection tool with you would be wise wouldn't you like to have the legal ability to do so?

Outside of just the straight odds I would have you consider that if your life is EVER worth defending (like when you are in your home) then it is ALWAYS worth defending even when you leave the home.

Depending On State Laws The Permit Might Be Necessary Just to Get to The Gun Range

I'm not an expert on the laws of all fifty states but I know a number of states that have laws that are almost set up to trap gun owners. In Colorado for example, without a permit, you can have your concealed firearm in your home and in your car but not anywhere else. So if you park your car on the street and walk from your front door to your car with a gun in a range bag you just broke the law unless you have a permit.

When you go hunting, when you go to the gunsmith, when you go to the gun range; without a permit, there may be some restrictions about how you can transport your firearms to and from those places. By obtaining a permit you likely can stop worrying about it and move freely.

Open Carry Isn't a Full-Time Solution

You might be thinking right now that in your state you can open carry without any sort of permit or license and in many states that is true. However, while you may have the right to carry that firearm on you without paying for any training or government license that doesn't make it responsible or tactically wise 100% of the time.

There are just circumstances in which it makes more sense to carry concealed. There may also be specific places where open carry is restricted and concealed carry (with a valid permit) is not. That is true in every open carry state I've ever researched.

The Only Downside I Can Think Of – Does It Put You On “The Grid?”

Now, I do understand the concern that getting a concealed carry permit somehow puts you on the grid. That now government authorities now know you own guns.

In the vast majority of states while the state or each county in the state does maintain a record of all the permit holders in their jurisdiction, they do not openly share that information with other government agencies or the public without a specific legal mandate such as a subpoena or warrant legally granted for a specific legal purpose which would be specific to an individual and would not require access to the entire database.

Now, the laws could change and I suppose that in theory, a new law could allow that the Federal Government could mandate that all states and counties turn over the entire database. In my own opinion, the odds of that happening are EXTREMELY low in the next decade or three and even if it did happen it should only be a concern if you have done nothing else to already be identified as a gun owner. Like having bought a gun from a dealer whose records could (in the same rare legal potential theory) also be gathered by government authorities. Or by having liked a page on Facebook that is for gun owners or by having taken a hunter safety course or having received a permit to hunt. All those things similarly could identify you as a gun owner.

No, in my opinion, concerns about being on “the grid” are not valid enough or at very least are outweighed by the benefits of having the permit.

In Conclusion

If you already have your permit I realize I'm preaching to the choir. Share this article with friends or family that have been hesitant to take action.

If you have been hesitant to take action I hope I've addressed your concerns above. Please share other thoughts, ideas, or concerns in the comments below!

About Mitch Goerdt

Mitch Goerdt, the Social Media Director and Marketing Guru at ConcealedCarry.com, is not your average marketing professional. With a background as rugged as his homeland of Minnesota's Iron Range and a personality as vibrant as the California sunshine, Mitch brings a unique blend of authenticity, wit, and expertise to the world of digital marketing.

Hailing from the land of hockey, Mitch's childhood was a playground for athletic adventures. Whether he was hitting home runs, making tackles, sinking three-pointers, or skating on frozen ponds, Mitch's competitive spirit and love for sports shone through. But his outdoor escapades didn't end there. He spent countless hours exploring the wilderness, honing his firearms, hunting, and fishing skills in the thick woods and on the seemingly endless lakes of Minnesota.

Mitch's journey led him to pursue a diverse range of experiences, both in the wild and the professional realm. Originally he followed in the family footsteps at the taconite mines of NE Minnesota, taking on various roles as a laborer, Millwright, Iron Worker, and Fabrication Welder. Yet, his adventurous spirit pushed him to explore new horizons beyond the familiar comforts of home.

A turning point in Mitch's life came when he made the audacious decision to uproot himself and embark on a transformative journey. He traded the northern chill for the warm California sun, then embraced the majestic mountains of Colorado, and eventually found solace near the sandy beaches of South Carolina. Along the way, he transformed his career path, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing Communications, combining his passion for effective messaging with his innate talent for connecting with people.

As ConcealedCarry.com's resident Marketing Guru, Mitch infuses his creative strategies with an engaging blend of humor and insight. He knows how to captivate an audience, weaving compelling narratives and gripping visuals that leave a lasting impression. Behind his mischievous smile and quick wit lies a wealth of knowledge, derived from his voracious appetite for learning. Psychology and philosophy are his intellectual playgrounds, where he continually expands his understanding of the human psyche and the intricacies of the human experience.

While Mitch thrives in the digital realm, he knows the importance of balance and keeping the body as sharp as the mind. During much of his downtime, you'll find him swinging for the fences on the slowpitch softball field. When he's not perfecting his swing, Mitch can be found roaming the great outdoors, exploring hidden trails and soaking in the natural beauty of this great nation.

So, whether he's crafting clever marketing campaigns, delving into the depths of the human mind, or swinging for the fences, Mitch Goerdt brings a vibrant energy and an infectious passion to everything he does.

7 Comments

  1. Darkwing on October 18, 2018 at 9:12 am

    Best thing to do is do not get a permit, it puts you o the state DL data base. Do what I have been doing for 25 years, carry but do not get a permit. It just puts you on the list. What government gives, government can take away

  2. Steve on October 24, 2018 at 3:01 am

    But if charged for a firearms violation, you may potentially void your ability to own firearms and may be ‘put on the grid’ by record in all 50 states.

  3. Bob Crifasi on October 26, 2018 at 9:24 am

    Darkwing, are you troll baiting? ?

  4. Derek McDoogle on June 25, 2019 at 12:40 pm

    I totally agree when you said that education is always good and nobody can ever get enough of it and especially when it comes to using a firearm. After moving to our current area, I figured out that many of my neighbors own a firearm for their own protection and hunting as well. Thanks for helping me learn more about whether or not to purchase a firearm but if decide to do so, I will definitely take ma training first. https://basicgunsafety.com/

  5. Charles A Roland on September 3, 2019 at 8:21 pm

    The certification paper in the mail and I need or would like to have one theses carry permit card please let me know how I can get one of them please

    • Jacob Paulsen on September 4, 2019 at 7:51 am

      Charles I think you are asking how you get a concealed carry permit? Go to http://www.concealedcarry.com/laws and click on your state. Look there for more information about what is required to apply.

  6. Gregory E Brubaker on February 10, 2021 at 1:01 pm

    I live in FL and scheduled my CWL appointment online. I went there this morning at 8 45 with my Drivers license and DD214. They took my info on a computer, took my picture, took my finger prints and $119.It only took 20 minutes.

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