Concealed carry facts for kids

An inside the waistband (IWB) holster helps hide a weapon inside your pants.

Concealed carry means carrying a weapon, usually a handgun, in a way that other people cannot see it. It's about keeping the weapon hidden from view in public places. In some places, the opposite is called open carry, where the weapon is visible.

While many police officers wear their handguns where everyone can see them, some officers, like plainclothes detectives, hide their weapons. In many countries, regular people need a special concealed carry permit to legally carry a hidden firearm. Sometimes, this permit is only needed if the weapon is completely out of sight, like in a purse or bag.

Carrying Weapons in Different Countries

Different countries have different rules about carrying hidden weapons. Here's a look at some of them:

Brazil

In Brazil, carrying a hidden weapon is usually against the law. Only police officers can carry firearms when they are not on duty, and there are very few other special cases. In 2019, the president signed a rule allowing some people, like lawyers and reporters, to carry weapons if their job puts them at risk.

Canada

In Canada, it's generally against the law to carry a hidden weapon. There are very few special situations where someone might get permission, for example, if their job requires it, like armored car guards. It's very hard for a regular person to get permission to carry a hidden weapon for protection.

Czech Republic

The Czech Republic has different rules. It's easier for people to get a gun license there, similar to getting a driving license. You need to pass a test, have a medical check, and have a clean record. Many people in the Czech Republic have licenses that let them carry a hidden weapon for self-defense. In fact, most gun owners there have firearms for protection.

Hunters can carry their hunting firearms openly when they are going to or from hunting areas. Police officers who work for cities also carry their weapons openly while on duty.

Here's a simple look at some license types in the Czech Republic:

Mexico

In Mexico, the law says people have the right to own weapons at home for safety. However, getting a permit to carry a weapon outside your home is very difficult. Even if a permit is given, it's usually for specific types of weapons that are not just for the military. The government decides who gets these permits.

Pakistan

Pakistan allows citizens with a firearm license to carry a hidden handgun. However, there are places where this is not allowed, such as schools, churches, or public offices.

Philippines

In the Philippines, you need a "Permit To Carry" (PTC) to carry a hidden weapon. This permit is given to gun owners if their lives are in danger or if their job is risky. This permit must be renewed every year. During election times, or when the president declares a "gun ban," no regular person can carry a gun outside their home, even with a PTC.

Poland

In Poland, if you have a firearm license for a handgun, you can carry it hidden. This applies whether the license is for self-defense or for sports. Self-defense licenses are very rare and only given to people the police believe are at high risk of attack. Sports shooting licenses require you to actively take part in competitions each year.

South Africa

In South Africa, it's legal to carry any licensed firearm, and you don't need an extra permit to carry it openly or hidden. However, the firearm must be carried in a proper holster or holder, and it must be completely covered. The person carrying it must also be able to control it easily. Private guns are not allowed in places like schools, churches, banks, or government buildings.

Slovakia

In Slovakia, carrying a hidden weapon is not very common. Only about 2% of the population has a license that allows them to carry a hidden weapon. It can be hard to get this type of license unless you can prove you are in danger.

United Kingdom

In most of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, and Scotland), carrying any weapon, hidden or visible, is generally against the law in public places. You can only do so if you have special permission or a very good reason. Self-defense is not considered a good enough reason to get a gun license there.

However, Northern Ireland is different. It still allows people to carry hidden handguns for self-defense. But to get this permit, the police must agree that there is a "real and specific risk" to your life, and that having a firearm is truly needed to protect yourself. Usually, only government officials or retired officers who are still at risk from attacks might get such a permit.

United States

A study shows how active shooter attacks ended, with police actions being common and bystanders (including someone with a gun) also playing a role.

Carrying a hidden weapon is legal in most parts of the United States. Some states have strict rules or ban it, but all states allow it in some way, either with a permit or license, or through "constitutional carry" (where no permit is needed). Illinois was the last state to allow concealed carry in 2014.

Most states that need a permit have "shall-issue" laws. This means if a person meets all the requirements, the state must give them a permit. Before 2022, some states had "may-issue" laws, where authorities could choose whether to give a permit, even if someone met the rules. But the U.S. Supreme Court said these "may-issue" laws were against the Constitution.

This map shows how different states in the U.S. recognized concealed carry permits from other states in 2017.

It can be tricky because a permit from one state might not be recognized in another. For example, a permit from Utah might be recognized in 30 other states. But some states, like California or New York, do not recognize permits from other states at all.

More to Learn

• Defensive gun use
• Gun politics
• Open carry
• Self-defense
• Students for Concealed Carry
• Weapon possession (crime)