Why Do People Get Their Concealed Carry Handgun Permit And Then Not Carry A Handgun?

Is this a common practice among Concealed Carry Handgun Permit holders? Or is it just a few Concealed Carry Handgun Permit holders that choose to not carry their weapon? Why would you jump through all the hoops necessary to get your Concealed Carry Handgun Permit and then not use it? I have done some research about this topic, is it true? Let’s explore this topic!

What Does It Take To Get A Concealed Carry Handgun Permit?

If we want to look at the requirements necessary to obtain a concealed carry handgun permit, we need to understand that it can vary from state to state on how to obtain a concealed carry handgun permit. The information that I am providing comes from the state of Colorado, where I live other states may be different.

Colorado does not prohibit a person from carrying a concealed handgun in public if the person has a permit.

Colorado law generally requires a sheriff to issue a permit to carry a concealed handgun if an applicant meets certain qualifications. Colorado provides sheriffs some discretion in issuing or denying such licenses, however. The sheriff may deny the permit if the sheriff has a reasonable belief that documented behavior by the applicant makes it likely the applicant will present a danger to himself, herself or others if the applicant receives a permit.

The sheriff shall issue a permit to an applicant who:

Is a legal resident of the state of Colorado;
Is age 21 or older;
Is not ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant state or federal law;
Has not been convicted of perjury under state law, in relation to information provided or deliberately omitted on a concealed handgun permit application;
Does not chronically and habitually use alcoholic beverages to the extent that the applicant’s normal faculties are impaired;^{5– endnote}
Is not an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance as defined under state law;
Is not subject to a: 1) protection order issued under state law and in effect at the time the application is submitted; 2) permanent protection order issued pursuant to state law; or 3) temporary protection order issued pursuant to state law that is in effect at the time the application is submitted;
Has not has been convicted of certain specified violent misdemeanors within the five years prior to applying for a permit, including assault, child abuse, harassment, violation of a protective order, hate-crimes, possession of an illegal weapon, etc.
Demonstrates competence with a handgun by one of several statutorily-authorized methods (for details, see the Firearm Safety Training subsection below).

A sheriff may also issue a “temporary emergency permit to carry a concealed handgun” to an individual whom the sheriff has reason to believe may be in immediate danger. The criteria to obtain the permit are similar to those of the non-emergency permit, except that no evidence of competence with a handgun is required and the applicant need only be age 18 or older. The emergency permit is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance and may be renewed only once. However, if the permittee is less than 21 years of age, the sheriff can renew the permit until the permittee reaches 21 years of age.

Applicants for a Colorado permit to carry a concealed handgun must demonstrate competence with a handgun by submitting evidence of completion of one of the following:

Evidence of experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competitions or current military service or current certification as a peace officer;
Evidence that, at the time the application is submitted, the applicant is a verified instructor; Proof of honorable discharge from a branch of the U.S. armed forces within the three years preceding submittal of the application;
Proof of honorable discharge from a branch of the U.S. armed forces that reflects pistol qualifications obtained within the 10 years preceding submittal of the application;
A certificate showing retirement from a Colorado law enforcement agency that reflects pistol qualifications obtained within the 10 years preceding submittal of the application; or
A training certificate from a handgun training class obtained within the 1 year preceding submittal of the application. The applicant shall submit the original training certificate that includes the printed name and original signature of the class instructor. So long as the class complies with all legal requirements, the applicant shall have discretion in selecting which concealed handgun training class to complete.

“Concealed Handgun training class” means:

A law enforcement training firearms safety course;
A firearms safety course taught by a verified instructor and offered by a law enforcement agency; an institution of higher education; or a public or private institution, organization, or firearms training school, that is open to the general public and is taught by a verified instructor.

Training must be held in person and no part may be conducted over the internet. The class must provide a minimum of eight hours of instruction, including live-fire shooting exercises. The course must also include instruction on:

Safe handling and storage of firearms and ammunition;
Safe firearms shooting fundamentals;
Federal and state laws pertaining to lawful purchase, ownership, transportation, use and possession of firearms, including instruction on extreme risk protection orders;
State law regarding the use of deadly force for self-defense;
Best practices to ensure safe interaction with law enforcement responding to an emergency;
Techniques for avoiding criminal attacks and managing violent confrontations and conflict resolution;

A Colorado permit to carry a concealed handgun is valid for five years. To renew a permit, the permittee must submit an application which requires the same information required for the original permit, including fingerprints.

Beginning in 2024, applicants seeking to renew their permit by demonstrating competence via a training certificate from a concealed handgun training class can take a “refresher” class. Refresher classes have the same training and testing requirements as necessary to receive an initial permit to carry under this method, but require only two hours of in-person instruction as opposed to eight.

After six months from its expiration date, a permit is considered permanently expired and cannot be renewed. Persons whose permits are permanently expired must reapply for a permit.

If you are looking to obtain a New CHP Application, the fee will be $52.50.

This includes:

CCIC Fingerprint check – $17.50

InstaCheck – $13.00

FBI Fingerprint check – $22.00

Total – $52.00

Statute: 18-12-205(2)(b)

All fees must be submitted to the issuing sheriff’s department in the form of a cashier’s check or money order made payable to CBI. Sheriff’s departments may charge an administrative fee in addition to fees charged by the CBI.

If you need to renew your CHP Permit, the fee will be $13.00. This includes:

InstaCheck – $13.00

*Total – $13.00

*Fingerprints previously sent to CBI

Statute: 18-12-211

In Colorado, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) Firearms InstaCheck Unit performs background checks for concealed weapon permit applications. The InstaCheck Unit’s goal is to promote gun safety by reviewing information that may prohibit someone from legally purchasing a firearm.

This includes:

Criminal record

Mental health holds

Information from the CCIC, NCIC, III, NICS, and Colorado Court System (PAS)

The Firearm Safety Class (face to face) that is required to take before you can get your permits found online. Locations for these classes can be found online, The price for the classes is $79.00.

There is also an online options that you can take to fulfill the Firearm Safety Class option. this might work best for some people, I personally like the in-person style of class.

If you pass all the above then you should be eligible to obtain your concealed carry handgun permit in 30 – 120 days. If there are issues then it can take longer.

What Are Some of The Benefits to Having A Concealed Carry Handgun Permit?

You can legally carry a concealed firearm for Personal Protection anywhere you go, as long as your permit is recognized there.
Carrying a concealed handgun can be a Crime Deterrent if criminals think you might be carrying.
Carrying a concealed handgun gives you a Tactical Advantage over keeping your handgun in plain sight.
Carrying a concealed handgun often gives you more Confidence when you are going places that might be more dangerous.
Carrying a handgun gives you the ability to respond more quickly when trouble occurs.
Carrying a concealed handgun develops a greater respect for firearms.
Carrying a concealed handgun gives you a better understanding of the risks involved when carrying a handgun in public.
Understanding the importance of proper training and education before obtaining your Concealed Carry Handgun Permit.

What Are Some Reasons Why Some People Would Not Carry A Firearm After Getting A Concealed Carry Handgun Permit?

It is uncomfortable to carry a concealed handgun in a holster on a daily basis.
Many people decide that they do not want to carry a big, heavy handgun everywhere that they go.
It takes some time to find a really good holster that you want to carry your handgun on a daily basis so they don’t do it.
In order to carry a handgun concealed, you must alter your wardrobe in order to do it correctly and people do not want to wear what it takes.
If you are overweight it is not comfortable to wear a handgun concealed on a daily basis.
Many people do not want to assume the responsibilities that go along with carrying a concealed handgun in public.
Some individuals are not willing to become trained and learn how to handle a concealed handgun.
Their employer will not let them bring a handgun to work.
I just wanted to get my concealed carry Handgun permit before they say I can’t.

Are The Above Mentioned Reasons For Not Carrying A Concealed Handgun Valid?

I am going to address each of the points above so you will understand the reasoning behind these statements. But before I get into this topic let’s get something out on the table up-front – In the movies people just throw a gun in their pant waistband and away they go… that is not how it is done. If you are going to carry a handgun for any length of time it must be in a holster. And that holster needs to be of good quality and must cover the trigger guard (trigger mechanism)so it will be safe and hold up to daily wear. Now back to the first topic, If you are

Wearing a concealed handgun can be uncomfortable depending on the style of holster that you wear and the type of physique that you have. I have worn a concealed carry handgun for many years and have tried many different styles of holsters. My favorite holster for concealed carry is inside the waistband (IWB), it conceals the best, but unfortunately it is also the most uncomfortable. I also like shoulder holsters, they are more comfortable but you must wear a jacket or vest to cover it. The most comfortable holsters to wear are outside the waistband (OWB) but they are much more difficult to conceal. Many people like the appendix holster but they do not seem to work for me. I have a bit of a belly and I cannot get my handgun to sit correctly in that position. Usually the better concealed the holster is, the more uncomfortable it is too. So it seems to be a tradeoff, concealability vs comfortability! Now there are many new belly band-type holsters that are much more comfortable but I myself do not like them. The bottom line is that wearing a concealed handgun can be uncomfortable and it is up to you if it is worth it or not.
Going along with the above comment of “comfort” , the idea of wearing a big piece of metal on your hip, all day, does not appeal to everyone. The unfortunate truth is that the easiest guns to shoot are full-sized handguns with longer barrels. That being said they are also very difficult to conceal. So people are going to smaller handguns with shorter barrels to minimize that “big bulge” on their hip. But there is a tradeoff, as handguns get smaller, they are harder to shoot accurately and keep on target. A small micro 9mm is easy to keep on your hip but if you cannot shoot it accurately, why carry it!
Choosing the right holster is critical if you want to be able to carry a handgun concealed, all day long. There are many holsters on the market to choose from so you need to buy the holster that you like and try it out for a period of time. Some holsters will work and others will not. This is a process that you need to go through to find the holster that works for you. The problem here is that some people do not want to take the time to find that right holster and just quit.
In order to carry concealed you need to alter your pant sizes or shirt sizes so your handgun will not print. When you put a holster inside your waistband it is necessary to get your pants at least 2 inches bigger than normal so the holster will fit without being too tight, Also you may need to get the next size shirt up so things will fit loose and the gun will not print. You may also need to wear different cover garments (vests, jackets, over-shirts) to help cover your handgun so it will not be noticed. Some people do not like the idea of wearing larger clothes, they like their same skin-tight jeans and shirts that they normally wear. Therefore they will not make that change and it won’t work otherwise.
If you are overweight and want to carry a concealed handgun, you may need to add some additional changes to your wardrobe or holster styles so that you can carry concealed. Some people can get frustrated and just stop trying to find a way to make that happen.
I am very pro-gun and I feel it is our right to have guns in our homes and on our own property. But in the area of concealed carry handgun permits I feel it is vital that we need to apply for these permits and not be a constitutional carry state like Florida. When we are required to apply for a concealed carry handgun permit, most people have already considered the rights and responsibilities when carrying a concealed weapon in public. Some of these responsibilities are knowing safe handling of firearms, keeping your finger off of the trigger until you are ready to shoot, also knowing your target and what’s beyond it, legal consequences when firing a gun, we are responsible for every round that comes out of our gun until and after it stops. There are many more responsibilities that we have when carrying a concealed handgun in public, but that gives you the idea. Once we get past the glamour of carrying a handgun things really get serious.
When a person is carrying a concealed handgun it is necessary to train with your weapon so you are able to hit what you are aiming at. This means many hours at the shooting range, conducting safety drills as well as shooting at paper targets perfecting your point of aim and trigger control. This is another area that some people are not willing to do and decide to quit.
Many people are not allowed to have firearms at their work place and this may discourage them from carrying too.
Lastly there are people who got their concealed carry handgun permit just in case they decide not to allow it in the future. They do not want to use it, they just want to have it.

Do You Agree With These Reasons?

Whether you agree with these reasons or not they are all valid points to some people. And I cannot tell them they are right or wrong. What I do say is those people that really want to wear a handgun concealed will find a way to do it. If one of these reasons apply to them, they will figure a way to make it work. Only you can be the judge of these reasons and whether they make sense to you. It is easy to work on the comfort issue or changing your style of clothing to fit wearing concealed. It is much more difficult to assume the responsibilities of wearing a handgun in public or putting in the time for adequate training to make yourself proficient with handling a handgun. Think about it!

Final Comments

Well there you have it, this may not be all of the reasons why people choose not to wear a concealed handgun after getting their permit but it is a good start. This is a controversary topic that people need to think about if people find themselves in this situation.

My hope is that every person desiring to carry a concealed handgun will think about why they really want a permit. Consider all of these situations and see if they might apply to them. Then do whatever is necessary to adjust their situation before they even try to get their permit. And lastly practice, practice, practice! I would enjoy your comments about this subject matter. If you have any other reasons why you might not use your permit I would be glad to hear about them. Take care.

If you have any questions about this post or anything related to Everyday Carry (EDC)/Concealed Carry, feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.

All the best,

Larry

Founder of Everyday Carry Essentials