Concealed carry laws have been grouped in to three categories – may issue, shall issue, and unrestricted.

MAY ISSUE – these states require a license or permit for concealed carry. The local authorities are provides some discretion about whether permits and licenses should be issued or not. The laws vary from highly permissive to difficulty in attaining permits, unless considerable justifications have been provided by the applicant. For example, in New Jersey all applicants have to exhibit ‘justifiable need’ like urgent need of self-protection which can’t be avoided by different means besides issuance of license or permit to carry a firearm.

SHALL ISSUE – these states require the issuance of a license or a permit after the individual fulfills the standard criteria which includes a background check and a minimum age. Furthermore, a few states also require gun safety training before issuing a license or permit.

UNRESTRICTED – no need of license or permit but there might be certain regulations about carrying guns in public.