Ccw? Cwp?

[Drusagas]

I've got a question.

I work in a knife and sword (plus other misc weapons..) store and so we get a lot of concealed carry people into our store as well as a lot of LEOs. As I am 20 and wanting to conceal carry when I turn 21, I ask some of the LEOs and other CCW people about what it takes to get one and where, around where I live, can I take the classes and such.

So down to the question. I have seen on some civilian permits where it says "Concealed Weapon and Gun Permit" and on the LEO's permits it simply says, "Concealed Gun Permit".

I take it there is a difference. Can you get one that allows you to carry not only guns but knives concealed, or do they both simply mean you can carry a gun concealed?

Just curious as I am also a knife nut.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Like damn near every other legal question on the board, it varies greatly from state to state. Some states the only allow guns, some only handguns, some everything down to sharpened sticks. I don't know of any state that issues a different permit for guns vs. other weapons, but there may be one. Most states tend to only have one permit and it does whatever it does in that state. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Fred Fuller]

Take a look at your state codes or statutes (most libraries have a set, many of them can be found on line) to get an idea what your state law says on the various issues. Start at http://www.handgunlaw.us/ for some initial ideas. For knife law try http://pweb.netcom.com/~brlevine/links.htm .

And ask some of your LEO customers, or put in a call to your local DA's office and ask them. It's important to get legal advice from trustworthy sources.

It does differ a lot from state to state. For instance, here in NC it's a CCH- a permit to carry a concealed HANDGUN. That's it, you can carry more than one concealed handgun if you want but they frown on lots of other things like dirks daggers'n'Bowie knives.

It's important to pay attention to other states and their laws due to reciprocity. Lots of states recognize my NC permit for example. Over the past month I travelled a lot and carried concealed in six other states- Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. All six recognize my NC permit, but you have to conform to state (and in some cases local too) law while in different jurisdictions. New Mexico was my favorite- you can open carry if you want (though we never saw anyone doing it), but NM says you can only carry ONE handgun concealed.

hth,

lpl/nc

 

[zeroskillz]

you might try posting about it on http://www.texaschlforum.com/
You'd get more specific info (being that you're in Waco). IIRC, you can carry a knife, but there is a limit on size. But ask over there, there's alot of good people with good info..

 

[arthurcw]

+1 on http://www.texaschlforum.com/

The license you get in Texas is a CHL. A Concealed Handgun License. I’ve been told that the rationale was that lawmakers did not want to encourage weapons that prolong a fight and wanted to only focus on handguns that tend to stop a fight. We can argue that one all day long. Not sure if I believe it or if the "instructor" was talking out his soft padded sit down parts. Frankly, you can carry some pretty good non firearms weapons under Texas law already.

All other weapons (bladed, blunt-force, and long guns) are covered by other provisions in the Texas Penal Code which is a pill to read in some parts. No knives over x inches. No double bladed knives. No swords. No rifles carried in a threatening manner. On and on and on...

You need to look up Lawdog's rant on the fact that you can carry a 5 inch fixed blade quite legally here but don't have a cheese-ball switchblade on you.

P.S. One little known fact about the Texas CHL is that it really only takes about 2 days for them to do the processing and create your a license. The other part of the 2 to 4 month wait is so that a student of the local arts academy can focus on doing a good job of PhotoShopping your passport photo so it looks like you’ve been on a 2 week bender. I think these students go on to work for The Enquirer, The Sun, and The New York Times.

 

[Drusagas]

Awesome responses guys! I appreciate it a lot. I know that in Texas we're allowed to carry up to 5.5" blade if it is not concealed and not double edged (and of course if it's not a switchblade) but I will definately research these sites and ask around some more.

oakwise (drusagas)