As of 2013, all 50 states allow concealed carry of handguns (concealed carry reciprocity cards), although a few states do not require permits and licensing standards vary widely from state to state. In the United States, most states are “shall issue” states. This means they will grant anyone a license that meets certain guidelines, such as being 21 or older and having no felony convictions, history of mental illness, or domestic violence. A handful of other states are “may-issuing” states. In these other states, like Maryland, a permit will only be issued if you can prove you need one. This can pose a significant barrier, and these states typically only issue permits to people in the public eye, well-connected wealthy individuals, or business owners who frequently carry large sums of cash (transport reciprocity cards concealed). Although the requirements and standards are different wherever you live, one thing is true: the number of concealed carry permit holders is rapidly increasing. The market for handgun training, concealed carry classes, and smaller, more concealable handguns has opened up. When concealed carry began to gain popularity, there were two very different schools of thought. Some believed that violent crime would decrease because criminals would be afraid of ordinary people who might happen to be armed. Others believed that having people carrying concealed handguns in public would lead to an increase in violent crime, with people getting angry and shooting each other. In analyzing crime data and trends, it is clear that with this influx of concealed carry permit holders, there has not been a corresponding increase in violent crime. Many opponents of concealed carry suggest that an increase in concealed cars...... middle of paper ... was actually an increase in violent crime. In the data, this was shown to be false. There is also no evidence that concealed carry permit holders commit a significant number of crimes. In order to obtain a license, background checks are first conducted to screen out anyone with a history of crimes, violence, and dangerous mental illness. There is also a great legal responsibility that accompanies the territory in a self-defense situation. A normal, sane person doesn't want to have to use a gun to defend themselves. There are many serious implications even if use is justified, such as civil suits and the psychological impact of the defense itself. The majority of license holders understand this and tend to adopt a more aware approach to their surroundings, and avoid confrontations and dangerous situations.