Maximum Efficiency Permits

LMulcahy

New member
What states can you get permits in to get the maximum states to be legal in with the fewest permits? And I know part of the equation would be your state of residence, but let's just not count that for the purpose of this discussion.

For example:
PA license is honored by 26 states. By getting a CT, UT and AZ permits the number gets bumped up to 39 states I can travel to. That goes to 40 July 1 when NV honors AZ, and then 41 when WI new law goes into effect around Nov 1, 2011..

So basically I'm looking for this-Most states legal, with fewest permits obtained... :)
 
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Edit: I responded in this manner because all states with reciprocal agreements are on the same list, so many are tied for "most". It is my opinion that AZ does the most to make this happen, and expand the list.

AZ seems to most aggressively expand their reciprocity through my experience. MA, MD, CA, and ME seem steadfast in their opinion that its their way or the highway in their state and refuse to honor any other states permit. Period. If a state is willing, AZ already has them on their list. I also find AZ's firearms laws to be the most fair and balanced while still bestowing some form of education and sense of duty to their citizens regarding firearms. They even encourage other states residents to take a class in AZ and obtain an AZ permit im guessing to spread awareness that safe and practical firearms ownership and carry is not only possible but a reality in some places.
 
Edit: I responded in this manner because all states with reciprocal agreements are on the same list, so many are tied for "most". It is my opinion that AZ does the most to make this happen, and expand the list.

AZ seems to most aggressively expand their reciprocity through my experience. MA, MD, CA, and ME seem steadfast in their opinion that its their way or the highway in their state and refuse to honor any other states permit. Period. If a state is willing, AZ already has them on their list. I also find AZ's firearms laws to be the most fair and balanced while still bestowing some form of education and sense of duty to their citizens regarding firearms. They even encourage other states residents to take a class in AZ and obtain an AZ permit im guessing to spread awareness that safe and practical firearms ownership and carry is not only possible but a reality in some places.
Hmmm...thanks for the info. I've always thought Florida and Utah permits are the norm...
 
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A lot of it will depend where you live since a few states, CO, NH, ME, MI, SC, FL only honer resident permits. I'm in OR which has terrible reciprocity (and will continue that way until state Senator Floyd Prozanski is out on his ass - let's make that happen - but I digress). I currently have OR, UT, and ME permits. I will be getting FL, NH, NV, and CT in a few months (a single course that I will be taking satisfies the training requirements for all 4 - UT and OR too but I already have those). My UT and FL will give me most states that have reciprocity except for CO, NH, ME, SC, NV. Nevada's reciprocity is pretty limited and you may very well need to get a Nevada NR permit if you want to carry there. For CO, NH, SC technically my Florida permit would give me those states but since I'm not a resident of FL, it doesn't help. I can get a NH non resident but I'm out of luck for CO and SC. They don't offer non resident permits (well SC does but I need to own land there). ME has very limited reciprocity but it's very easy to get a non resident permit. I will also be getting CT which does offer Non resident permits but doesn't recognize any other states.

When all is said and done I will have 7 permits. OR (resident), NV, UT, FL, ME, CT, NH. That will allow me to be licensed in all states expect CA, HI, CO, IL, MA, NY, NJ, MD, RI, SC, DC, WI (until later this year where they will almost certainly have reciprocity with one of the 7 permits). Depending on where you live you may get CO and SC and you may get NH, NV, and ME without explicitly needing to get those non resident permits. I think technically I could get MA, RI, and NJ non resident permits but they are either almost impossible to get or so cumbersome and expensive to get that they aren't worth it. Once i have all 7 permits I think my UT one will be no longer needed since all other permits will cover anything that UT would give me. I'll still keep it. I like to have more than one permit covering a state from a reciprocity perspective that way if the reciprocity agreements change I'm less likely to be caught out.
 
Think it would also be prudent on which states one travels to the most. While some non res permits have equal value in states they represent/cover. My choice was to go with whats works best for me and my travel areas,have a few extra that overlap in the event that a state drops repriocity.
NH-RES/ME,MA,PA,Fl-non res.
 
Neither Arkansas nor Missouri offer non-res permits, but if you live in either state, you enjoy the widest reciprocity by far. And if it weren't for New Mexico (which baffles me to begin with), Arkansas permit would allow carry in 40 states with WI. Similarly, in Missouri, if it weren't for Maine, one could carry in 40 states after WI is added. I included New Mexico for Arkansas, and Maine for Missouri because there doesn't appear to be an obstacle to reciprocity. It's not like New Mexico and Maine don't reciprocate with anybody. What's up with those pairs? Do they just not like each other? Who is John Galt?
 
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Without having to travel:
CT, FL, ME, NH, VA, UT gets you max reciprocity with min states (Get FL, UT or VA first, then the others).

You can also get AZ. It won't add anything, but that one is so easy to get, you might as well get it.

You can get TX and NV if you travel to that state.

You can get PA if you have a resident permit from your home state, but it won't add anything.

You can get SC if you own land there, even if you don't live there.

The way I look at it, if you can get it, get it because of that dang federal Gun Free School Zones Act.
 
I have my home state permit (AL) and seven others. ME and CT get me only those states and no others. Without UT I would lose only MN. Without FL I would lose only KS. The three others (VA, PA, NH) are totally superfluous.

However, I believe it is best to obtain as many permits as possible. For example, if someday NM decides not to honor Florida, I'm still covered by VA. Further, who knows when NV or SC or some other state will make changes in its laws such that one of my permits becomes useful there? I also believe that it is an advantage if you can show a permit for the state you're in over a state that merely covers you. A cop in NH might not be familiar with the list of states NH honors, but he definitely knows that a NH permit is valid. Also, as Smity points out, there's that idiotic federal law.

South Carolina is indeed an odd case. It honors no nonresident permits and issues only to residents or people who own land there. It is therefore impossible for an Alabama resident to carry legally in SC, though I heard that 10 guys here chipped in and bought a cheap tract of land somewhere in SC, had all their names recorded on the deed, and were then able to obtain nonresident permits.

Of course, you don't want to apply to NJ or MD or HI, where you are certain to be turned down, since you'll forever have to answer "yes" to the question, Has your application for a permit to carry ever been denied by any state?
 
A lot of it will depend where you live since a few states, CO, NH, ME, MI, SC, FL only honer resident permits. I'm in OR which has terrible reciprocity (and will continue that way until state Senator Floyd Prozanski is out on his ass - let's make that happen - but I digress).

Nice detailed response, thx for the extra info. I felt the need to share my experience in NH with an AZ permit. I CC'd everyday for 6mo there and was asked to produce on a few occasions. From mid to late 2010. They ran my info and never asked me to disarm. Sent me on my way. It is possible NH does not honor technically but they did honor my AZ permit with no scolding. I will say though the NH good ol' boys have a good eye. Sheep never notice the slight print the beavertail on my 1911 makes when I wear light shirts.
 
Hey Tricky

Don't forget to add to the steadfast list, the place from where all our laws flow, Washington DC.
 
Yea I dont even like talking about DC lol. It just leaves me flacid and unsatisfied to even mention. At least they lifted the full state ban.
 
Edit: I responded in this manner because all states with reciprocal agreements are on the same list, so many are tied for "most". It is my opinion that AZ does the most to make this happen, and expand the list.

AZ seems to most aggressively expand their reciprocity through my experience. MA, MD, CA, and ME seem steadfast in their opinion that its their way or the highway in their state and refuse to honor any other states permit. Period. If a state is willing, AZ already has them on their list. I also find AZ's firearms laws to be the most fair and balanced while still bestowing some form of education and sense of duty to their citizens regarding firearms. They even encourage other states residents to take a class in AZ and obtain an AZ permit im guessing to spread awareness that safe and practical firearms ownership and carry is not only possible but a reality in some places.

Not sure why my resident state (Maine) is like this. It's an OC state, and from my experience the CCW permitting process wasn't overly stringent, and the wait time was 2.5 mos. I had to pay $35., provide copies birth certificate, proof of residency, proof of taking a handgun safety course (in my case NRA), agree to mental health background check. Probably they just want to make more $ from non-residents. They just relaxed c.c. rules for state parks here...
That being said, I don't think I've ever had an open carry encounter/sighting in Maine, except during hunting season.
 
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South Carolina is indeed an odd case. It honors no nonresident permits and issues only to residents or people who own land there.


HUH? I live in MO, have a MO permit and travel through SC twice a year and my permit is good there. Missouri is one of the best permits for recp. carry. They do not offer non-resident permits though.
 
HUH? I live in MO, have a MO permit and travel through SC twice a year and my permit is good there. Missouri is one of the best permits for recp. carry. They do not offer non-resident permits though.

SC recognizes the MO permit and as you're a MO resident - no problem there. SC also recognizes FL and FL allows non residents to get a FL CCW. If you live in FL you can carry in SC using your FL permit. If you don't live in FL and have a non resident FL permit you can't use that permit to carry in SC (not legally anyway) since they don't recognize non resident permits.
 
Hey Tricky

Don't forget to add to the steadfast list, the place from where all our laws flow, Washington DC.

Very True, but let's not forget when it comes to gun control laws they are greatly influenced by kalifornia, messachooseus, mary's land, etc.
 
Not sure why my resident state (Maine) is like this.

Over the past few years, Maine has been slowly expanding its reciprocity. Maine now recognizes (with formal reciprocity agreements) resident permits from Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Delaware. (Figure out that mix!)

Of the states that honor the permits of some other states but not others, Maine recognizes the fewest (6), while Montana recognizes the most (40).
 
...At least they lifted the full state ban.

Although D.C. has lifted their ban on possession in the home, it still has a de facto ban on purchasing handguns. There are no FFL's in D.C. and you can't purchase a handgun outside of D.C. without shipping it to a FFL in D.C. Ergo, no one who resides in D.C. can buy a handgun.

(This is being challenged in Lave v. Holder)
 
Although D.C. has lifted their ban on possession in the home, it still has a de facto ban on purchasing handguns. There are no FFL's in D.C. and you can't purchase a handgun outside of D.C. without shipping it to a FFL in D.C. Ergo, no one who resides in D.C. can buy a handgun.

(This is being challenged in Lave v. Holder)

I don't understand why anybody would choose to live in DC. Terrible traffic, terrible crime rate, terrible local laws. If I had to live in the DC area at least it would be on the VA side of it. I guess that's beside the point for the Lave v Holder lawsuit but it still shocks me as to why anybody would want to live in the district.
 

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