So what is a CCW, anyway?

[ChiefPilot]

Here in MN, we have carry permits (or more specifically, we can get a "Permit to Carry a Pistol"). However, I've seen the term "CCW" used in several ways :

- "So I grabbed my CCW...."

- "Have you ever used your CCW?"

- "Can you CCW a SuperDoubleWide44 Long Magnum?"

...and so on. What exactly does CCW mean? Is it a synonym for your carry weapon or your carry permit/license/etc.? Or is it a word that describes the act of carrying a concealed weapon?

 

[jsalcedo]

"Permit to Carry a Pistol"

CCW sounds better than telling the cops you have "PCP".

 

[Preacherman]

CCW = Concealed Carry Weapon. The permit to carry it would be a CCW permit.

 

[P95Carry]

Chief .. it has become something of a generic term, altho many places have different acronyms. I regard it essentially as the ''permit'', or ''licence to carry''. In PA the permit states ''Licence to carry firearms''

CCW tho itself stands for ''Carrying (a) concealed weapon''. So in fact you could say it is really more a description of the act itself than licencing per se.

One way or another tho .. I think we all know what it means and take it to be the whole deal .. the act and the licence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dang it Peter - you're a step ahead of me all the time today!! ...... I expect yours is right, tho I daresay either would be applicable.

 

[AJ Dual]

LtC - License to Carry

CWP - Concealed Weapons Permit

CHP - Concealed Handgun Permit

That's a few more you might run across.

Not that any of those do me any good here in WI.

 

[Greg L]

CCDW here in Ky (Concealed Carry Deadly Weapon - anything that you can conceal under your coat that might possibly hurt anyone is ok by the state ).

However the term "CCW" is generic for any form of state license allowing you to wander around out in public with a pistol on your hip (or if talking about a weapon, the type of pistol that you carry on your hip).

 

[QuarterBoreGunner]

For Cali it's a 'License to Carry Concealed Pistol, Revolver, Or Other Firearm Within the State of California'

The interesting portion of that being the '...Or Other Firearm...' part. One of the guys that owned the range I used to manage had a pistol gripped 870 on his license. Ahhhh Good Times.

In addition, 'CCW' has become sort of a generic multi-purpose term, like 'Photoshop' (contrary to what Adobe would like you to use).

Example: 'Hey man? What are you CCWing today?'
or
'You can't CCW in there, that's Federal Property.'
or
'What do you have on your CCW?'

See? Clear as mud.

 

[oldfart]

Strictly speaking, CCW is a permission slip to exercise a right.
I know, everybody knows that carrying concealed falls outside the right to keep and bear arms. But by whose definition? Who exactly says that concealed cary is different than simple RKBA? Why, that paragon of impartiality, the government tells us that.

Addicts of big government in Vermont and Alaska must be cringing in their closets for fear that some citizen might carry a concealed gun into a store and NOT rob it.

 

[Ringer]

Here in Michigan I need my CPL (Concealed Pistol License) to Carry my Concealed Weapon (CCW). It was called a CCW permit until about a year ago when they changed it to CPL, meaning it doesn't allow for carry of otherwise illegal concealed weapons .ie. a knife with a 4" blade etc....

Generally speaking I think the term is used both ways, to mean Carry Concealed Weapon as in a permit and Concealed Carry Weapon as in the specific firearm/weapon carried.

 

[P12]

Here in Tejas,

it's a CHL (Conceal Handgun License) I also call it my "rights taxation receipt".


Meaning Handgun, no shotties, no swords, no grenades, no mortars, no asps, no stilletos nothing but handguns.

Although I'd much rather pull a gun than a knife any day.

 

[Viking6]

In Virginia, mine says "permit to carry a concealed handgun", I don't have my Florida "CCW" on my person, so I'm not sure what the precise nomenclature is.

 

[Snowdog]

CCW sounds better than telling the cops you have "PCP".

LMAO, I'd say!


Here in NC it's CCW as well, but I've yet to hear someone use "CCW" in lieu of their handgun; I've never heard anyone ask "What's your CCW" or "I grabbed my CCW* ".
And I've certainly never heard CCW used as a verb (CCWed, CCWing, etc).

I have heard "What do you use for your CCW" or "Make sure you tell an officer you have a CCW if pulled over".
Maybe I don't get out enough, who knows.

* Unless they're talking about grabbing their CCW license.

 

[Sunspot]

In Alabama, it's titled "State of Alabama Pistol License". The verbage is "Licence to carry a pistol concealed on the person or in a vehicle is hereby granted".
CCW sounds better.

 

[Heraclitus]

Crisis Control Widget

 

[Mark13]

In Florida its concealed weapon permit, you can carry any concealed weapon on your person. Although shotguns, rifles and machineguns of any type are specifically not allowed. In your vehicle, as long as any firearm is in a secure case, you don't need to have a CCW to have it loaded and in the passenger area.

In this way Florida is very gun friendly for protecting yourself in a vehicle. Most other states just pay lip service to allowing you to transport firearms in your car, making you lock them unloaded in the trunk.

Do some states also require you to be actually going to a range or dealer to transport firearms?