terminology

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Newton24b

Moderator
we all like terminology, and as a result certain things are called the same thing no matter what.
for example the hammer on a revolver is a hammer, the barrel is always a barrel.

but when it comes to a permit that lets you carry a concealed handgun, why cant everyon get on the same page?

there are several threads in this forum about 'ccw liscence". the thing is there is no such thing as a ccw liscence or permit.

ccw is the legal term refering to a felony charge known as "carrying a concealed weapon'.

a concealed handgun liscence or concealed pistol liscence lets you carry a concealed handgun.
 
Well, there are de facto standards, and then there are de jure standards.

Like it or not, CCW is widely used as a generic term for a license to carry a concealed weapon. It's better than trying to remember what all of the different states call their permits (CHL, CHP, LTC, etcetera).

I had a friend in high school that insisted on pronouncing "modem" so that the first syllable rhymed with "odd" or "wad". He said that was the only pronunciation that made sense, since "modem" is a contraction for "MODulate/DEModulate", and that's how the "mod" is pronounced in those words. He was technically right, of course, but the rest of the world carried along merrily "mispronouncing" it anyway.
 
Newton24b said:
but when it comes to a permit that lets you carry a concealed handgun, why cant everyon get on the same page?
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Because even if you get everyone technically correct for their state, the states use different terms.

PA and at least one other state call it a "License to carry firearm," or LTCF. My home state calls it a permit to carry -- and doesn't require that it be concealed. Florida, IIRC, calls it a 'Concealed Weapons Permit," and it covers not only handguns but also knives.

The acronym "CCW" has gained traction because everyone knows what it means: a license or a permit to carry a concealed weapon (i.e. firearm).
 
ccw is the legal term refering to a felony charge known as "carrying a concealed weapon'.
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It's also the acronym for...well...carrying a concealed weapon. Nothing in those words themselves nor saying "CCW" is inferred as an illegal act except for the social class that wants to make it so.
 
Newton24b said:
ccw is the legal term refering to a felony charge known as "carrying a concealed weapon'.
Click to expand...
Seeing Shane's post brings this to the fore, so I'll add a comment or three. Between my home state and several non-resident licenses and permits, I can legally carry a concealed handgun in approximately 36 states. Since I can do so legally it is not a felony to do so, but it certainly is "carrying a concealed weapon." So where, exactly, is there a specific state or federal law that refers to "carrying a concealed weapon" as a felony offense?
 
The Department of Public Safety here in AZ issues concealed carry licenses and they refer to them by the label CCW. It appears you may be fighting a losing battle as that term has been institutionalized.

In the fine state of Arizona you don't even need a license to carry concealed due to a law that was passed here recently. I wonder how experienced gun owners on this forum feel about that... I'm new to firearm ownership having only shot and carried in the service but I am choosing to take the requisite course and obtain my license anyway even though it isn't required. The funny thing is that by showing a DD214 they don't even require the firearms course here to obtain the permit, which as I said is also not required to carry concealed. Really the only perk of obtaining the license here is to avoid the waiting period when purchasing a new firearm.
 
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In Washington State it's a Concealed Pistol License (CPL). But I use the term CCW a lot of the time when talking about it here and elsewhere because that's what everyone else calls it.

As long as everyone knows what you're referring to there's no problem.

When I was a little boy living in San Antonio you'd walk into a restaurant and they'd ask you "what kind of coke do you want?". The older people would ask "what kind of soda water do you want?"

In Michigan they'd ask "what kind of pop do you want?"

In Washington I hear both soda and pop.

They all mean the same thing and everyone understands. No problem.
 
In the fine state of Arizona you don't even need a license to carry a permit due to a law that was passed here recently. I wonder how experienced gun owners on this forum feel about that
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I hope that this policy reaches more states.

Sure, some people are too dumb to have guns, but when we start trying to make law too perfect we start messing things up for everyone. I'm willing to let the dumb have guns with as few restrictions as possible in the interest of allowing the non-dumb to have them too. Fortunately the non-dumb still slightly outnumber the dumb. I think. ;)
 
States are all over the board on what they call carry permits. Then add to that some states require licenses (I believe) just to own handguns. Also, some states permit open carry.

But, for the most part, I understand the nomenclature for carrying, even if it tends to vary.
 
HisDudeness said:
....the only perk of obtaining the license here is to avoid the waiting period when purchasing a new firearm.
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In Arizona with a recognized concealed weapons permit one may wear a concealed gun into a bar or a restaurant that serves alcohol, as long as be doesn't consume alcohol and as long as the establishment isn't properly posted. But without the permit, one may not legally wear a gun, openly or concealed, into any establishment that serves alcohol by the drink.

I find this very convenient when I visit Arizona. I don't have to bother stashing my gun in my car when I go out to eat. Of course, I wind up drinking a lot of iced tea with my meals.
 
Virginia only recently (within the past year) started allowing concealed carry in restaurants, with a similar provision that you're not allowed to consume alcohol while doing so. The funny thing is that open carry has been allowed in restaurants here for years, with no such restriction against drinking while carrying. I suspect the inconsistency will be addressed at some point.
 
lawnboy:

In Washington State it's a Concealed Pistol License (CPL). But I use the term CCW a lot of the time when talking about it here and elsewhere because that's what everyone else calls it.
...
Click to expand...

A lot of folks in WA also call it a CHP - even some officials.
 
In Montana, it's a CWP - Concealed Weapons Permit - Good for guns, knives, brass knuckles, low watt phasers, low yield nuclear hand grenades, etc.
 
In Indiana, it's LTCH for "License to Carry a Handgun". Our LTCH covers any type of legally owned handgun for both concealed and open carry (though concealed is encouraged) and is available as either a 4-year license or a lifetime license for an additional fee. We are also a "shall issue" state with no training requirement so as long as one can pass the background check, fills out the necessary paperwork, and pays the necessary fees, that person will be issued a LTCH from the state police.
 
The one up here is "Alaska Concealed Handgun Permit".
They aren't required, but do come in handy when traveling to the lower 48.
 
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