concealed carry
A concealed carry permit (CCP), concealed handgun license (CHL), or similar license is a state-issued credential that generally authorizes an eligible individual to carry a concealed firearm in circumstances otherwise restricted by state law. While these licenses are issued under state law, the issuing authority varies by jurisdiction. Some states administer licensing through a state agency, while others delegate the issuance to county authorities, sheriffs, local law-enforcement agencies, or a clerk. Each state has its own individual requirements for obtaining a license (if one is required at all), and states also differ in the way the credentials legally function. As explained in Willis v. Winters, 253 P.3d 1058 (2011), in the State of Oregon ORS § 166.291–166.292 does not grant an affirmative authorization to carry a concealed firearm; rather the statute provides “an exemption from state criminal liability for concealing a handgun that the licensee independently has a right to possess.” In contrast, other states treat the license as an affirmative authorization to carry a concealed firearm. Although precise statutory definitions vary, “concealed carry” generally refers to carrying a firearm in a manner that prevents it from being readily observable. The scope of a license also varies by jurisdiction; many concealed-carry licenses specifically authorize or exempt the carrying of handguns, while some states use broader licensing schemes.
In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court decided on the constitutionality of New York State’s concealed carry regime in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association (NYSRPA) v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1. In Bruen, the Supreme Court held that the New York discretionary “special need” requirement for obtaining a firearm permit was a violation of the Second Amendment. New York subsequently enacted the Concealed Carry Improvement Act (CCIA), which replaced the “special need” requirement with a series of other requirements. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Antonyuk v. James, 120 F.4th 941 (2d Cir. 2024), held that the CCIA requirement for “good moral character” was not facially unconstitutional, but the provision requiring an applicant to turn over a list of social media accounts was.
[Last reviewed in August of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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