<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Concealed carry or carrying a concealed weapon (CCW), is the practice of carrying a weapon (such as a handgun) in public in a concealed manner, either on one's person or in close proximity . Not all weapons that fall under CCW laws are lethal . For example, in Florida, carrying pepper spray in more than a specified volume (2 oz .) of chemical requires a CCW permit, whereas anyone may legally carry a smaller, "self - defense chemical spray" device hidden on their person without a CCW permit . As of 2017 there have been 16.3 million concealed weapon permits issued in the United States . </P> <P> There is no federal statutory law concerning the issuance of concealed - carry permits . All fifty states have passed laws allowing qualified individuals to carry certain concealed firearms in public, either without a permit or after obtaining a permit from a designated government authority at the state and / or local level . </P> <P> A comprehensive 2004 literature review by the National Academy of Sciences concluded that there was no evidence that concealed carry either increases or reduces violent crime; some individual studies suggest that CCW reduces violent crime; others suggest that it increases violent crime . </P>

What states can u carry a concealed weapon
find me the text answering this question