How America Became a “Shall Issue” Nation
Over the past three decades, a quiet revolution has been taking place across the country. We’re talking about the expansion of “right-to-carry” or “shall issue” laws allowing citizens to carry concealed firearms. If you look at the animated map below, you’ll see that the vast majority of states now allow citizens to obtain carry permits on a “shall-issue” basis. That typically means than a citizen can obtain a carry permit after fulfilling basic requirements, such as a background check, safety class, and finger-printing.
As recently as the mid-1990s, most states disallowed carry permits, or allowed such permits only at the discretion of local law enforcement officials. Over the past 30 years states have migrated to less restrictive alternatives. The map below shows how most states have gone from “No-Issue” (Red) or “May-Issue” (Yellow) status to “Shall Issue” (Blue).
Opponents of right-to-carry legislation argued that the passage of “shall issue” laws would increase gun violence. In fact, the opposite occurred. The level of violent gun crime has declined in recent decades. A study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) showed a 39% decline in gun murders from 1993 to 2011 plus a 69% drop in non-fatal gun crimes during that period.
All 50 states have now passed laws allowing citizens to carry certain concealed firearms in public, either without a permit or after obtaining a “shall-issue” or “may-issue” permit from local law enforcement. Illinois had been the last state without such a provision — but its long-standing ban on concealed weapons was overturned in a federal appeals court, on Constitutional grounds. Illinois was required by the court to draft a concealed carry law by July 9, 2013 at which time the Illinois legislature, over-riding the amendatory veto of the governor who had sought to impose many restrictions, approved concealed carry to begin January 2014, at the latest.
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Tags: Concealed Carry, Gun Violence Statistics, Right-To-Carry, Second Amendment, Shall Issue
Thanks to NRA members for paying the way. keep up the good work.
IT HAS TAKEN A LONG TIME FOR ALL STATES TO IMPLEMENT A SUFFICIENT RIGHT TO CARRY PERMENTATION. NOW WE HAVE TO WATCH THE VOTES FOR THE UN SMALL ARM TREATY, NOT ONLY WILL IT OVERRULE THE RIHTS TO CARRY IT WILL ALSO LIMIT WHAT YOU CAN GROW ON YOUR OWN LAND (FOOD FOR SELF PRESERVATION). IT IS MY BELIEF THAT THE UN WANT THEIR THUMB OVER ALL CITIZENS OF THE WORLD. NEXT WATCH FOR OBAMA TO ALEINATE THE NATION OF ISREAL, THIS WILL SPELLM OUR DOWN FALL, FOR PROFF JUST READ THE BIBLE, SO LET’S DO WHAT WE CAN AND PRAY FOR THE BEST. BLESS YOU ALL. A. DAY