I was in a discussion the other day ( you have probably noticed by now that I discuss a lot) With a guy at the range and he stated that he carries 2 concealed guns on his body every time he leaves the house and a third in his truck. That got me thinking is there a limit on how many guns you can conceal on your person at any one time? So I did a little research.
Can you conceal carry more than one gun at a time? Well as with many things in gun law, That depends. It depends on the state and sometimes the city that you are in. Not all states allow more than one firearm to be concealed.
My first inclination was that a law enforcement agency has vetted a person’s background and check their criminal history then deemed them a stable upstanding citizen before they have issued them a permit. So why would they care if that person carried one or two guns?
In most states, they don’t. If they have deemed you to not be a danger with a concealed gun you aren’t considered a danger with a gun and a backup or two. That sounds sensible enough.
Many people carry a weapon on their body and another one in their vehicle.
But wait States can’t even agree on whether a CCW is a license or a permit, so you know a few will have different views of the number of guns you’re allowed to carry.
All fifty states have passed laws allowing concealed carry.
While all fifty states have laws on their books allowing the carrying of concealed weapons their requirements vary widely. Carrying more than one gun could land you in hot water is some states.
Some will honor other states permit ( this is known as reciprocity) others will not.
Constitutional carry allows concealed carry without a permit or license but is not universally recognized in all states. So with that as a background lets look at your right to conceal carry multiple firearms.
Let’s tackle an easy one first. Let’s say you are on a multi-state road trip.
If you are in a state other than your issuing state and they do not have reciprocity with your state. you are not allowed to carry any concealed firearm in that state period. The same goes for constitutional carry. If your state has it and the one you are in does not. No permit no gun, not 2 not 1, none. (Sorry that sounded a little like Dr. Suess).
Most states that have constitutional carry will also issue a CCW. Getting a CCW may be a good idea if you travel across state lines into states without constitutional carry but do have reciprocity for the CCW with your state.
States don’t all agree
Shocker! As you might expect where there are fifty jurisdictions with fifty sets of laws they don’t all see eye to eye. California allows one particular gun if they issue a CCW. Its serial number will be listed on the permit.
Ohio, on the other hand, trusts their vetting process and once they issue a CCW they will leave it up to you what pistol you choose to carry on any given day. They also don’t specify the number of guns that can be carried.
New York may issue a concealed carry license but has an approved list of firearms. You must carry a listed gun. The license is not valid in the five counties that make up New York City.
New Mexico restricts concealed carry to one gun, and the license will specify what type, revolver or auto.
As with all things gun-related check your local laws.
Please realize that reciprocity only means that the state that you are visiting will recognize your CCW. It does not mean the laws that you work under in your state follow you. You are bound by the laws and regulations of the state you are visiting. It is fully your responsibility to know what those laws are.
You cannot assume that just because something is legal in your home state that the same will be true when you cross the state line. If you are crossing state lines always know the laws of the states you will be traveling through. It is your responsibility to know the law. Ignorance of the law could land you in big trouble and who needs that.
So it looks like the best course of action would be to contact your states issuing authority be that state police or county sheriff and ask some questions. Many local gun shops and shooting ranges will hold workshops and classes on your local laws and requirements. Knowledge is the best way to stay out of trouble.
As always I must remind you that I am not an attorney and this is not legal advice. This is merely a discussion based on my reading and research.
Related Questions
Can I carry a gun in my car without a CCW? You are not allowed in most states to carry a loaded firearm within reach of the occupant of a vehicle unless you hold a CCW. You may transport an unloaded firearm as long as it is not in immediate access to occupants of the vehicle. It may be locked in the trunk of a car or if the vehicle does not have a trunk it may be in a case behind the rearmost seat. any ammo must be stored separately and in some states in a locked glove compartment.
Is open carry the same as constitutional carry? No, it is not. Open carry allows you to carry a firearm in plain sight not concealed, or covered in any way (I could write a whole article about why I feel from a self-defense standpoint this is a bad idea.) Constitutional carry allows you to carry open or concealed, but at this time that is not recognized in all states.