Letter by Maine State Police supporting "Constitutional Carry" bill

This letter provides an understanding of how well the current concealed handgun laws have worked.  I haven't seen many state police departments speak out on Constitutional Carry bills, though this might largely just reflect the governor's views on this issue.  A copy of the letter is available here:

Senator Rosen, Representative Fowle, and members of the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, my name is Major Chris Grotton, and I am here to represent the Maine State Police and the Department of Public Safety to testify in Support of LD 652. . . .  

The current permit process regulates people who are generally ‘doing it right’ . In the past four years, less than one tenth of a percent of the 36,000 applicants (to State Police) are denied. Over the past 30 years, fewer than 20 people per year have been charged with carrying a concealed Weapon of any type. Even when we deny their application most of the time they are not otherwise prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm and could still lawfully carry openly in all other places except where canying a firearm is prohibited by law. 

It is our opinion that law enforcement resources could be utilized in a more efficient mamier, such as identifying those persons who are —' and would continue to be - prohibited from owning or possession a firearm, and effectively communicating that information among law enforcement agencies instead of regulating those that are complying with the law. . . .

South Carolina: Gov Nikki Haley supports Constitutional Carry

From The State newspaper (South Carolina):

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley said Tuesday that she backs a proposal that would make it legal for most South Carolinians to carry guns – concealed or in the open – without a permit or the training that the state currently requires. 

Haley made her comments after she signed into law a bill that allows gun owners with licenses to carry concealed weapons into businesses that serve alcohol – restaurants and bars – as long as they do not drink alcohol and the businesses did not bar guns. 

After signing the restaurant and bar bill, Haley said she backs a pending state Senate bill, called the “Constitutional Carry Act,” that would eliminate the state’s current permitting and training requirements for citizens who wish to carry firearms. 

“Criminals are dangerous, and I think that every resident should be allowed to protect themselves from criminals,” Haley said when asked by The State to respond to some state senators’ fears that doing away with the permitting and training requirements could threaten the public. 

State Sen. Lee Bright, R-Spartanburg, the chief sponsor of the constitutional-carry proposal, says the 2nd Amendment gives Americans the right to carry firearms without any government restrictions. 

However, it is unlikely Bright’s bill will pass this year. It faces significant opposition in the Senate and still must clear the Senate committee where it nearly died last week. . . .

New Wyoming Concealed Handgun Law Goes Into Effect

The article in the Billings (MT) Gazette is a little strange since it fails to mention that concealed handgun permits are not required to carry a concealed handgun in 99.4 percent of Montana.

A law that allows Wyomingites to carry concealed weapons without permits goes into effect today.
The new law, strongly supported by gun rights advocates, received the overwhelming endorsement of the Legislature last winter.
Wyoming joins Alaska, Arizona and Vermont in allowing citizens to carry concealed handguns without undergoing background checks or firearms training. . . .

Montana State Senate Moves to End Concealed Carry Permit Requirement in the 0.6 percent where it is required

From the Associated Press:

A measure to allow people to carry a concealed gun without a permit from law enforcement is closer to becoming law.
The Senate endorsed the measure late Friday in a 29-21 vote. The gun-rights proposal has already cleared the House.
Currently in Montana, a permit and background check from authorities is needed to carry a concealed gun into cities and towns. There are also old restrictions on carrying without a permit into logging, mining and railroad camps.
The new proposal would let people carry concealed guns into those areas as long as they have taken a class from a certified trainer or state agency. No criminal background check would be required, nor would the state be issuing a formal permit. . . .

Wyoming drops permit requirement for concealed carry

The AP keeps ignoring that Montana allows concealed carry without a permit in 99.4% of the state. There are a lot of pro-self-defense laws being passed by states this year. Anyway, here is the AP piece on Wyoming.

Wyoming on Wednesday became the fourth state to allow citizens to carry concealed guns without a permit, with Gov. Matt Mead signing a bill into law as several other states considered similar action.
The law allows state citizens legally entitled to own guns to carry them concealed starting in July. The guns still wouldn’t be allowed in schools, bars and government buildings.
“We have heard from both sides on this, this bill has attracted a lot of attention,” Mead said at a signing ceremony at the State Capitol. “But as written, I thought it was an appropriate bill for Wyoming, and an appropriate law for Wyoming.”
Similar bills are pending in states including Colorado, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Utah. A bill has been introduced in Kentucky but hasn’t advanced while another was introduced for discussion in Idaho. . . .

In Colorado, the state House overwhelmingly passed a similar bill.

The Colorado House has approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would allow people to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.
The House voted 40-25 to pass the bill Wednesday.
It wouldn't change laws governing who is allowed to carry a concealed weapon, but the people who do meet the legal requirements would no longer need a county permit. . . .

A similar bill is advancing in Utah.

After failing to win approval by the committee last time it was heard, Wimmer’s bill passed on a 7-6 vote and goes to the floor for consideration.