With more and more states allowing constitutional carry, I am started to become bombarded with questions about what they should do when it comes to different types of carrying. Some ask if constitutional carry is the way to go while others ask if having a permit is better in the long run. There are a number of things to consider when debating on going with constitutional carry or applying for a permit and paying the government to carry a concealed firearm. Both have their own specific advantages when looking at each independently. Let’s dive deeper into the pros and cons of constitutional carry.

Benefits Of Constitutional Carry

Constitutional carry is having the ability to carry a concealed firearm without paying a fee or acquiring a permit from your resident state. There are currently 13 states that have constitutional carry written to allow their residents to carry a concealed handgun without acquiring a permit. Texas is the latest state to enter in debates and it looks to be heading that way for the Lone Star state as well. Having the ability to carry a concealed firearm without paying a fee for a five-year permit is a great way to exercise your rights without having to pay for your freedoms.

Having more states accept the idea of constitutional carry allows more people to carry than if the state forced them to pay for a permit. Ultimately, having more people carrying a firearm will often result in more people in the shooting community. As a result, it makes carrying a concealed firearm more mainstream in society. None of these things are bad and will only strengthen how people look at carrying a firearm in society as becoming normal. At the end of the day, it’s always going to be a positive for the gun community if laws are passed to make carrying concealed more accessible to the everyday person. Some will argue with this idea but in the end, it’s important to have more freedoms rather than less.

Cons Of Constitutional Carry

Constitutional carry is a great step forward and offers a ton of benefits as more states adopt this style of carrying. Although I’m excited that more states are writing constitutional carry into law, it does have a few drawbacks. Probably the biggest drawback is the fact states will be less incentivized to offer concealed carry reciprocity. Most states will only offer reciprocity into their state if you have a valid concealed carry permit and have gone through the proper licensing. Even if more states start to accept the idea of giving reciprocity to constitutional carry states, there will always be states that will outright refuse reciprocity and won’t see your constitutional carry as an acceptable benchmark to carry in their state.

If you are anything like me and travel often, sticking with constitutional carry may not be the best option. Being able to carry a concealed handgun in different states with your constitutional carry freedoms will really limit what states you can carry in with no official permit. Now there are plenty of people who carry a concealed firearm who don’t travel much. If you’re the type of person who just stays mostly in your home state without traveling to another state, it may be a great option to do constitutional carry instead of applying for a carry permit.

So What’s The Best Option?

When looking at going with either the constitutional carry option or paying for a concealed carry permit, there are a few things to consider. The first would be how often you travel outside of your state and if plan on carrying a gun while you travel. If you’re like me and travel to multiples states fairly often, then it may be worth shelling out the money for an actual valid carry permit.

Now if you don’t travel and you just want to carry to protect yourself during daily tasks, then a constitutional carry option may fit your lifestyle better. My home state of Michigan doesn’t have constitutional carry yet, but they charge $110 for a five-year permit to conceal carry. If Michigan was to offer constitutional carry, I would be tempted to go that route rather than have an actual permit that I pay for on a semi-regular basis.

Overall Thoughts

So if it was me and I lived in one of the states that offer constitutional carry, what would I do? Well, like I said earlier, I am always on the road and I really like how many states I can carry in because I have reciprocity in those states. With constitutional carry, the number of states falls drastically and I’m not sure it’s worth it for me. In the end, if you carry all the time and travel often, it’s important to have a valid permit. Now, if you’re the type who stays around the state limits, it’s a great idea to try and save money on state fees and go the cheaper route of constitutional carry.

This is my personal opinion but I would still stick with having a permit just for the sheer fact you have more options when carrying your handgun. Let me know what you guys think of constitutional carry and if it’s a good idea in the comments below. Would you prefer to have permitless carry in your state or is it a good idea to apply for a carry permit anyways? Let me know in the comments below. If you have questions about carrying or firearms in general, don’t hesitate to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there!

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