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'''Concealed carry''' is the practice of wearing a weapon that is not in plain sight.  The concern is that if there is a confrontation between two individuals, it will not escalate if each party knows that the other is carrying a lethal weapon.  The counter-argument is that if a weapon is in plain site in an environment where few people wear weapons, then that person may be singled out for an attack.

'''Concealed carry''' is the practice of wearing a weapon that is not in plain sight.  The concern is that if there is a confrontation between two individuals, it will not escalate if each party knows that the other is carrying a lethal weapon.  The counter-argument is that if a weapon is in plain site in an environment where few people wear weapons, then that person may be singled out for an attack.

Most [[state]]s of the [[USA]] allow citizens to carry concealed [[weapons]] (usually a [[handgun]]), providing they have a '''legal permit''' to do so. This concealed weapon permit is abbreviated as a CWL, CCL, CWP, or CCP depending on the state. People who do not have a concealed carry must [[open carry|carry their weapons in a visible manner]].

Most [[state]]s of the [[USA]] allow citizens to carry concealed [[weapons]] (usually a [[handgun]]), providing they have a '''legal permit''' to do so. This concealed weapon permit is abbreviated as a CWL, CCL, CWP, or CCP depending on the state. People who do not have a concealed carry must [[open carry|carry their weapons in a visible manner]].

States without concealed carry statutes, such as (as of May 2017<ref name="Surge"/>) [[Alaska]], [[Arizona]], [[Arkansas]], [[Idaho]], [[Kansas]], [[Maine]], [[Mississippi]], [[Missouri]], [[Montana]], [[New Hampshire]], [[North Dakota]], [[Vermont]], [[Wyoming]], and [[West Virginia]] allow gun owners to carry weapons either concealed or open.

States without concealed carry statutes, such as (as of May 2017<ref name="Surge"/>) [[Alaska]], [[Arizona]], [[Arkansas]], [[Idaho]], [[Kansas]], [[Maine]], [[Mississippi]], [[Missouri]], [[Montana]], [[New Hampshire]], [[North Dakota]], [[Vermont]], [[Wyoming]], and [[West Virginia]] allow gun owners to carry weapons either concealed or open.

It was reported in May 2017, that the number of people in the U.S. obtaining concealed carry permits was increasing quickly, with nearly 16 million people having permits in May 2017 (this number did not include people in states where no permit is necessary to carry a gun).<ref name="Surge">Hawins, Awr (May 22, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/22/demand-concealed-carry-permits-surging-nationwide/ Report: Concealed Carry Witnesses Largest One-Year Surge Ever]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 22, 2017.</ref> It was also reported that as the number of concealed carry permits rose by 215% between 2007 and 2015, the murder rate decreased by 14%.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (May 24, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/24/concealed-carry-215-percent/ Concealed Carry Up 215%, Murder Rate Down 14%]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 25, 2017.</ref>

It was reported in May 2017, that the number of people in the U.S. obtaining concealed carry permits was increasing quickly, with nearly 16 million people having permits in May 2017 (this number did not include people in states where no permit is necessary to carry a gun).<ref name="Surge">Hawins, Awr (May 22, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/22/demand-concealed-carry-permits-surging-nationwide/ Report: Concealed Carry Witnesses Largest One-Year Surge Ever]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 22, 2017.</ref> It was also reported that as the number of concealed carry permits rose by 215% between 2007 and 2015, the murder rate decreased by 14%.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (May 24, 2017). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/05/24/concealed-carry-215-percent/ Concealed Carry Up 215%, Murder Rate Down 14%]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 25, 2017.</ref>

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