Carrying a concealed firearm is an activity traditionally regulated by the states. Generally, each state has its own concealed carry eligibility laws and requirements, and determines which out-of-state concealed carry permits it will recognize. Although regulating concealed carry has been left to the states, Congress has passed a few laws that authorize certain individuals to carry concealed firearms across state lines, notwithstanding individual state provisions. In addition, it has enacted a measure that permits individuals to carry concealed firearms on federal lands that are units of the National Park System and National Wildlife Refuge System. Yet, in the past few years, Congress has considered measures that would permit nationwide concealed carry and continues to consider legislation that would allow concealed carry on other federal lands. This report first provides an overview of how concealed carry is generally regulated among the states. It then summarizes the federal laws regulating concealed carry. Lastly, it examines the concealed carry legislation pending before 112 th Congress. This report does not address carrying firearms on military installations by military personnel. Carrying a concealed firearm is basically the ability of an individual to carry on his or her person a firearm, typically a handgun, in a concealed manner. Regulations pertaining to concealed carry vary by state. States that issue concealed carry permits are generally either a "shall-issue" or a "may-issue" state. Among these states, some issue permits only to residents, while others issue permits to both residents and non-residents. In "shall-issue" jurisdictions, the issuing authority is required to grant an applicant the concealed carry permit (CCP) if he or she meets the statutory requirements. In "may-issue" jurisdictions, the issuing authority generally has the discretion to grant or deny a CCP based on a variety of statutory factors. For example, the state of North Carolina is a "shall-issue" jurisdiction. It provides: "The sheriff shall issue a permit to carry a concealed handgun to a person who qualifies for a permit under G.S. 14-415.12. The permit shall be valid throughout the State for a period of five years from the date of issuance." (emphasis added). By comparison, the state of California is a "may-issue" jurisdiction. It provides: "The sheriff of a county, upon proof that the person applying is of good moral character, that good cause exists for the issuance, and that the person applying satisfies any one of the conditions … may issue to that person a license to carry a pistol …" (emphasis added). Because states with "may-issue" laws typically grant permits at their discretion, obtaining a permit in "may-issue" states is arguably more difficult than in "shall-issue" states. There are, however, jurisdictions which utilize the term "shall-issue" in statute but could be considered "may-issue" jurisdictions because they typically require the applicant to provide evidence of good character or demonstrate proper cause in his or her need for the CCP. For example, Rhode Island law states: "The licensing authorities of any city or town shall … issue a license or permit to carry concealed upon his or her person a pistol or revolver … if it appears that the applicant has good reason to fear an injury to his or her person or property or has any other proper reason for carrying a pistol or revolver, and that he or she is a suitable person to be so licensed." Only the state of Illinois and the District of Columbia prohibit concealed carry. On the other hand, states like Alaska, Vermont, Arizona, and Wyoming do not require their residents to have CCPs to carry a concealed firearm; though, some of these states ( e.g. Alaska and Arizona) continue to issue CCPs to their residents so they may carry concealed in other states which require permits for the purpose of reciprocity. Each state decides which out-of-state permits it will honor. This is done via reciprocity and recognition agreements that can be either written or unwritten. States tend to recognize or enter into reciprocity agreements with other jurisdictions where the concealed carry requirements are similar to their own. For example, the state of Washington mandates that it will recognize concealed carry permits of other states only if the licensing state (1) does not issue to persons under the age of 21; and (2) requires mandatory fingerprint-based background checks of criminal and mental health history. Reciprocity agreements can change periodically. For instance, the state of Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Licensing announced: The Division of Licensing constantly monitors changing gun laws in other states and attempts to negotiate agreements as the laws in those states allow. This list was last updated on January 1, 2011, when the State of Iowa was added to the reciprocity list. NOTE: EFFECTIVE July 1, 2009, Nevada was no longer reciprocal with Florida. Authorities in Nevada notified the Division of Licensing that as of that date Nevada would no longer honor Florida concealed weapon licenses. Therefore, in accordance with the reciprocity agreement provision set forth in section 790.015, Florida Statutes, Florida could not longer honor concealed weapon licenses issued by the State of Nevada. Notably, some states only honor out-of-state permits if the licensee holds a permit from his state of residence, otherwise an out-of-state visitor would have to apply for a non-resident permit, if offered, of the state in which he wishes to carry. For example, Colorado, a "shall-issue" jurisdiction, provides that another state's CCP is valid if it is issued to a person who is 21 years of age or older, and "a resident of that state that issued the permit, as demonstrated by the address stated on a valid picture identification that is issued by the state that issued the permit and is carried by the permit holder." There are also other states that that honor out-of-state CCPs irrespective of whether that individual is a resident or non-resident of the state from which he obtained his license. Utah, for example, provides that its unlawful carrying penalties do not apply to any person to whom a permit to carry a concealed firearm has been issued by the state or by another state or county. Carrying a concealed firearm should be distinguished from transporting a firearm in a vehicle. States generally provide an exception to their CCP requirements if the individual is transporting a firearm in a vehicle for specific purposes and the firearm is unloaded and disassembled. The state of Michigan requires individuals to obtain a CCP in order to possess, carry, or transport a pistol in the state, unless the individual is "carrying a pistol unloaded in a wrapper or container in the trunk of his or her vehicle … [or that the pistol is] unloaded in a locked compartment or container that is separated from the ammunition for that pistol from the place of purchase to his or her home or place of business or to a place of repair or back to his or her home or place of business, or in moving goods from [one] place of abode or business to another place of abode or business." Maryland similarly makes it unlawful to transport a handgun, concealed or open, unless one is licensed to do so. Other exceptions where lawful transportation is permitted include if the handgun is unloaded and carried in an enclosed case and if the individual is transporting the handgun between certain locations. Yet, in the state of New York, for example, it is unlawful for an individual to transport a firearm without being licensed by the state to do so, and there do not appear to be any exceptions. There is, however, also a federal safe harbor that permits individuals to transport a firearm in a vehicle between states without fear of being prosecuted for violating the carrying/transportation laws of a state through which he travels. Section 926A of title 18 of the U.S. Code was first enacted under the Firearms Owner Protection Act (FOPA) in 1986. Shortly thereafter during the same Congress, a bill ( S. 2414 , 99 th Congress) sponsored by Senator Strom Thurmond was introduced to amend certain provisions in title 18 of the U.S. Code, including the newly enacted Section 926A. Currently, 18 U.S.C. Section 926A provides: Notwithstanding any other provision of any law or any rule or regulation of a State or any political subdivision thereof, any person who is not otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm , if during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver's compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console. [Emphasis added] There is little jurisprudence interpreting Section 926A, but proceedings from the House floor on S. 2414 provide some guidance on how this provision could be construed. The colloquy on the House floor between Representative Ron Marlenee of Montana and Representative Bill McCollum of Florida, a Member of the House Subcommittee on Crime, which had jurisdiction over firearms issues, provides some clarification as to the intended meaning of S. 2414 . The dialogue suggests that the purpose of Section 926A is to create a "safe harbor for interstate travelers," such that any traveler who transports his firearm in accordance with the section "cannot be convicted of violating a more restrictive State or local law in any jurisdiction through which he travels." While travelers are not required to transport their firearms in accordance with this section, failure to do so may place them at risk of being in violation of state laws governing firearm transportation.