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Letter Re: The Risk to Reward Ratio in Getting Concealed Carry Permits
Jim,
Thank you for your excellent site. I'm here every day.
My wife and I are considering getting Concealed Weapons Permits. Do you recommend
getting a permit? Is it a good idea, or is it a red flag that would attract
the unwanted attention of our government officials? Do you have a permit? I
would appreciate your insight. - The Forester
JWR Replies: I do not have a CCW permit,
but I have the benefit of living in an open
carry state. I don't issue any blanket advice on concealed carry. Everyone
has to weigh the risks and benefits of licensure for themselves, in their
own particular circumstances. Since I live in a lightly-populated region
with low crime, I decided that the high profile that goes along with getting
a CCW permit wasn't justifiable. I am far more worried about being mauled
by a bear when out berry picking than I am getting mugged. Street crime is
virtually unheard of here in TUWS.
(Robert Heinlein was right: An armed society is a polite society.)
Again, the decision on whether or not to get a CCW permit is personal judgment
call. For many SurvivalBlog readers living in high crime areas, getting a permit
would probably be advisable.
BTW, I wouldn't be surprised to see Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and perhaps
the Dakotas all "going Alaska" in the next few years--dropping the
requirement for a CCW for carry inside city limits. This has been the case
in Vermont since time immemorial, and the
CCW permit requirement for inside city limits was recently dropped in Alaska.
(In many southern and western states it is already legal to carry conceal outside of
city limits.)
