Constitutional Carry Law (Essay Sample)

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Constitutional carry law
Constitutional carry law refers to state laws that advocate for the freedom to carry a firearm either openly or concealed. The law does not prohibit citizens from openly carrying a firearm in public spaces as no state permit is required. Under constitutional carry law, there are no background checks, government licensing, registration, or training needed to carry a handgun in public. Vermont was the first state to recognize constitutional carry law as it does not have a regulation regarding gun possession in its history. All 50 states have enacted laws that require gun holders to have a license, training, and non-criminal records to carry a concealed handgun (Everytown Research par, 1). The Supreme Court decision in District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008 solidified that the right to bear arms confers individual rights, not just collective militia freedom to own guns. In granting individual rights to own guns, the Supreme Court raised a fundamental question of whether that right includes carrying firearms in public. The thesis states that the constitutional carry law right should be limited as it removes the barrier for the unfit to own guns, interferes with the justice system, and raises the likelihood of gun violence.
Critics Arguments
Access to the Unfit
Opponents of the constitutional carry law argue that the regulation would allow barred citizens with criminal backgrounds to possess firearms. The removal of barriers to obtaining guns can lead to an influx of criminal activities as criminal entities can buy guns to commit felonies. The restriction and penalties stipulated in the law regarding domestic violence offenders and felons arrested with illegally possessed guns do not offer adequate deterrence from the criminal entities to possess guns. In addition, the lack of background checks expands the opportunity to buy guns as the gun rifle shops have no documentation to deny felons from accessing the guns. Criminals typically do not apply for concealed carry permits; thus, the constitutional carry law will lead to a proliferation of guns to criminals as there is no law to prevent them from accessing the firearms.
Interferes with Justice System
Constitutional carry law interferes with law enforcement by making it difficult to identify suspects at a crime scene. Fingerprints are a significant